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diff --git a/37218-8.txt b/37218-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0020bfa --- /dev/null +++ b/37218-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2881 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Olinda's Adventures: or the Amours of a +Young Lady, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Olinda's Adventures: or the Amours of a Young Lady + +Author: Anonymous + +Editor: Robert Adams Day + +Release Date: August 26, 2011 [EBook #37218] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLINDA'S ADVENTURES: THE AMOURS *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Eleni Christofaki, Joseph Cooper +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +This book contains inconsistent punctuation and various misspellings +which have been retained as they appear in the original. An Errata List +with unresolved printer errors can be found at the end of the book. +Superscripts are preceded by the [^] sign and enclosed in braces if more +than one letter is in superscript. The illustration at page 136 was +placed at the end of the section so as not to disrupt the text. + + Mark up: _italics_ + =bold= + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + + +OLINDA'S ADVENTURES: + +Or the Amours of a Young Lady + + +(1718) + + +_Introduction by_ ROBERT ADAMS DAY + + +PUBLICATION NUMBER 138 + +WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY + +UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES + +1969 + + + + +GENERAL EDITORS + +William E. Conway, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + +George Robert Guffey, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +Maximillian E. Novak, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + +ASSOCIATE EDITOR + +David S. Rodes, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + + +ADVISORY EDITORS + +Richard C. Boys, _University of Michigan_ + +James L. Clifford, _Columbia University_ + +Ralph Cohen, _University of Virginia_ + +Vinton A. Dearing, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +Arthur Friedman, _University of Chicago_ + +Louis A. Landa, _Princeton University_ + +Earl Miner, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +Samuel H. Monk, _University of Minnesota_ + +Everett T. Moore, _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +Lawrence Clark Powell, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + +James Sutherland, _University College, London_ + +H. T. Swedenberg, Jr., _University of California, Los Angeles_ + +Robert Vosper, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + +CORRESPONDING SECRETARY + +Edna C. Davis, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + +EDITORIAL ASSISTANT + +Mary Kerbret, _William Andrews Clark Memorial Library_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +A standard modern history of the English novel speaks of "the appearance +of the novel round about 1700. Nothing that preceded it in the way of +prose fiction can explain it."[1] Though today many scholars would +assert that "nothing" is too strong a term, just how much of the +original fiction written under the later Stuarts could "explain" Defoe +and Richardson? Most late seventeenth-century novels, it is true, are +rogue biographies, scandal-chronicles, translations and imitations of +French _nouvelles_, or short sensational romances of love, intrigue, and +adventure with fantastic plots and wooden characters. Only occasionally +was a tale published which showed that it was not examples of the +novelist's craft that were wanting to inspire the achievement of a +Defoe, but rather the sustained application of that craft over hundreds +of pages by the unique combination of talents of a Defoe himself. + +Such a novel is _Olinda's Adventures_, a brief epistolary narrative of +1693, a minor but convincing demonstration of the theory that a literary +form such as the novel develops irregularly, by fits and starts, and of +the truism that a superior mind can produce superior results with the +most seemingly ungrateful materials. Of Defoe, _Olinda's Adventures_ +must appear a modest precursor indeed; but measured, as a +realistic-domestic novel, against the English fiction of its day, it is +surprisingly mature; and if we believe the bookseller and assign its +authorship to a girl of fourteen, we must look to the juvenilia of Jane +Austen for the first comparable phenomenon. + +_Olinda's Adventures_ seems to owe what success it had entirely to the +bookseller Samuel Briscoe. It appeared in 1693 in the first volume of +his epistolary miscellany _Letters of Love and Gallantry and Several +Other Subjects_. _All Written by Ladies_, the second volume following in +1694.[2] It may have been the nucleus of the collection, however, since +it begins the volume, and since Briscoe states in "The Bookseller to the +Reader" (sig. A2) that various ladies, hearing that he was going to +print Olinda's letters, have sent in amorous correspondence of their +own--a remark that could indicate some previous circulation in +manuscript. Another edition (or issue) of the miscellany, with a +slightly altered title, was advertised in 1697, but no copy of this is +recorded.[3] Nothing further is heard of _Olinda_ for some years, but +meanwhile Briscoe became something of a specialist in popular epistolary +miscellanies, perhaps because he was a principal employer of Tom Brown, +much of whose output consisted of original and translated "familiar +letters." In 1718 Briscoe assembled a two-volume epistolary collection +with the title _Familiar Letters of Love, Gallantry and Several +Occasions_; this collection was apparently made up of the best and most +popular items in his miscellanies of the past twenty-five years.[4] Here +_Olinda_ appears in much more impressive company than the anonymous +"ladies," for the collection includes the first letter of Heloise to +Abelard (said to be translated by L'Estrange) with actual correspondence +and epistolary fiction by Butler, Mrs. Behn, Dennis, Otway, Etherege, +Dryden, Tom Brown, Mrs. Mary Manley, Farquhar, Mrs. Centlivre, and other +wits. Another edition (or issue) was advertised for W. Chetwood in 1720; +and if the edition of 1724 ("Corrected. With Additions") is really the +sixth, as Briscoe's title-page states, _Olinda_ must have reached a +respectable number of readers. + +_Olinda_ enjoyed another distinction, nearly unique for English popular +fiction before 1700. While by the middle of the eighteenth century +novel-readers in France were reveling in the adventures of the English +epigones of Pamela and Clarissa, defending their virtue or exhibiting +their sensibility in translation, the current of literary influence +before Defoe ran overwhelmingly in the opposite direction. _Olinda_ +anticipated the Miss Sally Sampsons of sixty years later by appearing in +1695 in a French translation as _Les Amours d'une belle Angloise: ou la +vie et les avantures de la jeune Olinde: Ecrites par Elle mesme en forme +de lettres à un Chevalier de ses amis_.[5] Whether merit or mere chance +accounted for this unusual occurrence it is impossible to say; the +translation of _Olinda_ is a faithful one, though the text is at times +expanded by the insertion of poems into Olinda's letters, with brief +interpolated passages which rather awkwardly account for their presence. +Curiously, the volume closes with a list of books printed for Briscoe, +indicating either that the French translator would do anything to fill +up space, or that Briscoe may have been exploring the possibilities of a +French market for his wares. + +While _Olinda_ was ascribed merely to an anonymous "young lady" in the +first edition, the editions of 1718 and 1724 gave it to "Mrs. Trotter." +This lady, who since 1707 had been the wife of the Reverend Patrick +Cockburn, a Suffolk curate, was then living in relative obscurity (her +husband, having lost his living at the accession of George I, was +precariously supporting his family by teaching), though she had enjoyed +a certain literary success in King William's time and would later be +heard from as a "learned lady" and writer on ethics. The fact that her +maiden name was used, though not likely in 1718 to add very much luster +to Briscoe's collection, and the similarities between the heroine's +situation and Mrs. Trotter's own early life (to be discussed later) make +Briscoe's attribution seem worthy of acceptance. It is true that if Mrs. +Trotter wrote _Olinda_ she did it at fourteen. But she had been a child +of astonishing precocity; she had produced a successful blank-verse +tragedy at sixteen, and both Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and Jane Austen +were to perform similar novelistic feats (to say nothing of Daisy +Ashford). + +Catherine Trotter (1679-1749)[6] was the daughter of David Trotter, a +naval commander who died on a voyage in 1683, and Sarah Bellenden (or +Ballenden), whose connections with the Maitland and Drummond families +seem to have helped support her and her daughter in genteel poverty +until she gained a pension of £20 per year under Queen Anne; Bishop +Burnet was also her friend and patron. Catherine, a child prodigy, +learned Latin and logic, and is said to have taught herself French; she +extemporized verses in childhood, and at fourteen composed a poem on Mr. +Bevil Higgons's recovery from the smallpox which is no worse than many +"Pindarics" of the period. In 1695, however, Catherine Trotter +established herself as a female wit with the impressive success of her +tragedy _Agnes de Castro_, adapted from Mrs. Behn's retelling of an +episode from Portuguese history. It was produced at the Theatre Royal in +Drury Lane in December, with a prologue by Wycherley and with Mr. and +Mrs. Verbruggen and Colley Cibber in the cast. _The Fatal Friendship_, a +tragedy produced at Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1698, had a moderate +success; two later plays did not. But Mrs. Trotter gained the +acquaintance of Congreve, Dryden, and Farquhar, and was well enough +known to be lampooned in _The Female Wits_ (1704; acted 1696) along with +Mrs. Pix and Mrs. Manley. In 1702 she turned to more serious writing, +and her _Defence of the Essay of Humane Understanding_ and other +treatises defending Locke's theories against the charge of materialism +were impressive enough to earn her a flattering letter from Locke +himself; she also corresponded with Leibniz, who analyzed her theories +at some length. _The History of the Works of the Learned_ printed an +essay of hers on moral obligation in 1743, and in 1747 Warburton +contributed a preface to one of her treatises. + +If we are willing to admit that _Olinda_ is Mrs. Trotter's work, its +virtues may be explained in part by seeing it as romanticized +autobiography. Olinda, like Mrs. Trotter, is a wit and something of a +beauty in adolescence, a fatherless child living with a prudent mother +who is anxious to marry her off advantageously, and a solicitor of +favors from noble or wealthy connections. Of the details of her +character and circumstances at this time, however, no information is +certain, and we must rely upon two presumably biased contemporary +portraits. Mrs. Trotter gets off lightly in _The Female Wits_; she is +represented (in "Calista," a small role) as being somewhat catty and +pretentious, vain of her attainments in Latin and Greek (she has read +Aristotle in the original, she says), but her moral character is not +touched upon.[7] Another account of her early life, in Mrs. Manley's +fictionalized autobiography and scandal-chronicle, _The Adventures of +Rivella_ (1714), may be entirely unreliable; but its author was +certainly well acquainted with Mrs. Trotter, and what she says of her +life in the 1690's, what is narrated in _Olinda_, and what Mrs. +Trotter's scholarly memoirist Thomas Birch relates are similar in +outline, similar enough so that we may speculate that the same set of +facts has been "improved" in _Olinda_, perhaps maliciously distorted in +_Rivella_. Cleander, the Platonic friend of the novel, Orontes, the +kidnapped bridegroom, and Cloridon, the inconveniently married noble +lover, appear to be three aspects of the same person; for Mrs. Manley +tells at length (pp. 64-71) of "Calista's" relationship with "Cleander" +(identified in the "key" to _Rivella_ as Mrs. Trotter and Mr. Tilly).[8] +John Tilly, the deputy warden of the Fleet prison, whose mistress Mrs. +Manley became and remained until 1702, first met her, she says, through +Mrs. Trotter, who sought her aid in interceding with her cousin John +Manley, appointed chairman of a committee to look into alleged +misdemeanors of Tilly as prison administrator. Mrs. Trotter, says Mrs. +Manley, was a prude in public, not so in private; she was the first, +"Cleander" said, who ever made him unfaithful to his wife. Mrs. Manley +goes on, with a tantalizing lack of clarity (pp. 101-102): + + [Calista's] Mother being in Misfortunes and indebted to him, she + had offered her Daughter's Security, he took it, and moreover the + Blessing of one Night's Lodging, which he never paid her back + again.... [Calista] had given herself Airs about not visiting + _Rivella_, now she was made the Town-Talk by her Scandalous + Intreague with _Cleander_. + +Whatever the truth about Mrs. Trotter's adolescent amours may have been, +or whether they have any connection with Olinda's fictional ones, must +remain a matter for speculation; but the artistic merits of _Olinda_ are +in no such doubt. Although technically it may be called an epistolary +novel, its author is no Richardson in marshalling the strategies of the +epistolary technique. Nevertheless, although it is actually a fictional +autobiography divided somewhat arbitrarily into "letters," the +postponement of the letter to Cloridon until the end, the introduction +of what might be called a subplot as Olinda tries to promote Cleander's +courtship of Ambrisia and notes its progress, the breaking off of the +letters at moments of (mild) suspense, the bringing up of the action to +an uncompleted present, all these show an awareness of fictional +mechanics that is far from elementary. Indeed, a contemporary critic +might go so far as to see in the novel's conclusion an anticipation of +the "open-ended" realism of plotting so much applauded at present; for +though Orontes has been got out of the way, Olinda has not yet been +rewarded with Cloridon's hand by a similarly happy turn of fate, and +must patiently await the demise of his inconvenient wife as anyone +outside of melodrama might have to do. The contretemps and +misunderstandings, the trick played on Olinda with regard to Cloridon's +fidelity and her subsequent undeceiving, the closet-scene and its +embarrassments, may smack of the hackneyed devices of stage comedy, but +they are not clumsily handled, and they never make emotional mountains +out of molehills. + +Perhaps the most salient qualities of _Olinda_, in contrast to the +fiction of its day, are restraint and control. With the exception of the +rather ridiculous way in which the complications are resolved at the end +(Orontes's sequestration and death from smallpox), everything in the +novel is planned and motivated with some care. Inclinations develop +slowly and believably; the springs of action, barring a few not very +fantastic coincidences and accidents, are anti-romantic--almost too much +so. Indeed, such criteria of the "modern novel" as those proposed by Ian +Watt[9] are all modestly but adequately met. Most important, the +situation and behavior of the heroine, her values, and the world in +which she lives are (but for their sketchy development) what a reader of +Jane Austen might take for granted, yet are all but unique before 1740. + +Here is a middle-class heroine who is fully as moral as Pamela, but with +a wry sense of humor; she defers to her mother as a matter of course +when marriage is in question, yet would willingly evade parental +decrees; she is capable of Moll Flanders's examinations of motive, yet +sees through her own hypocrisies; she lives in London in reduced +circumstances and agrees to a marriage of convenience although tempted +to engage in a dashing adultery; and she endures the onset of both love +and jealousy without melodramatic or sentimental posturings. + +Other technical achievements of _Olinda_ aside, the portrait of the +heroine as she reveals herself to her confidant is the novel's most +significant feature. A fictional heroine of this early date who can be +sententious without being tedious, who is moderately and believably +witty, who is courted by a goldsmith (even though, conformably to the +times, he is named Berontus) rather than a prince borrowed from +_Astrée_, and who satirizes herself soberly for scorning him, who meets +her ideal lover with a business letter rather than in a shipwreck, and +who level-headedly fends him off because he is both married and a +would-be philanderer, is a rarity indeed. + +_Olinda_ commends itself to the student of English literary history +principally for two reasons: because it so ably anticipates in embryo so +many features which the English domestic and realistic novel would +develop in its age of maturity and popularity, and because we do not yet +understand, and need to investigate, the cultural factors--literary, +social, and economic--which prevented the kind of achievement it +represents from being duplicated with any frequency for several decades. + + Queens College, + City University of New York + + + + +NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION + + +1. Walter Allen, _The English Novel_ (New York, 1968), p. 4. + +2. Advertised in the _Term Catalogues_, Trinity Term, 1693 (II, 466); +Wing L1784, L1785. + +3. It is listed in Harold C. Binkley, "Letter Writing in English +Literature" (unpublished Harvard dissertation, 1923). + +4. They included _Familiar Letters [of] Rochester_ (2 vols., 1697), +_Familiar and Courtly Letters [of] Voiture_ (2 vols., 1700), _A Pacquet +from Will's_ (2nd ed., 1705), _The Works of Mr. Thomas Brown_ (2-4 +vols., 1707--), and _The Lady's Pacquet of Letters_ (1710). Briscoe was +not in every case the printer of the first edition. + +5. "A Cologne. Chez *****. MDCXCV." A copy of the volume is in the +Bibliothèque de l'Arsénal in Paris. + +6. See DNB, _s. v._ "Cockburn, Catherine"; Edmund Gosse, "Catharine +Trotter, the First of the Bluestockings," _Fortnightly Review_, N. S., +No. 594 (June 1916), pp. 1034-1048; Alison Fleming, "Catherine +Trotter--'the Scots Sappho,'" _Scots Magazine_, XXXIII (1940), 305-314. +The source from which all three are derived is Thomas Birch's _The Works +of Mrs. Catherine Cockburn_ (2 vols., 1751), including letters and a +prefatory biography. + +7. The play is reproduced in the Augustan Reprint Society's +Publication No. 124 (Los Angeles, 1967), with an introduction by Lucyle +Hook. + +8. Page references are to the "second edition" of 1715. See Paul B. +Anderson, "Mistress Delariviere Manley's Biography," _MP_, XXXIII +(1935-36), 270-271, for further details. + +9. _The Rise of the Novel_ (London, 1957), Chapter I. + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE + + +The text of this facsimile of _Olinda's Adventures_ (from the second +volume of _Familiar Letters of Love, Gallantry and Several Occasions_ +[1718]) is published with the permission of the Trustees of the Newberry +Library. The unique recorded copy (in the Bodleian Library) of the +duodecimo first edition of 1693 is too small and too poorly printed to +be reproduced in the present series. + + + + + The SECOND VOLUME + + OF + + _Familiar Letters_ + + OF + + =LOVE, GALLANTRY= + + And several OCCASIONS, + + BY THE + + WITS _of the Last and Present Age_. + + With the best of _VOITURE_'s Letters, Translated + by Mr. DRYDEN and Mr. T. BROWN. + + ALSO THE + + REMAINS + + Of the Celebrated + + Mr. =T. BROWN;= + + BEING + + LETTERS, POEMS and DIALOGUES + on the TIMES, not Printed in his + WORKS. + + LONDON, + + Printed for =SAM. BRISCOE.= 1718. + + + + +[Decoration] + + _Olinda's_ Adventures: + + OR THE AMOURS + + Of a Young LADY. + +By _Mrs._ TROTTER. + +LETTER I. + + + _Dear Cleander_, + +I Hope I need not tell you how uneasie this tedious Absence makes me; +for I must confess as troublesome as I find it, and as much as I Value +you, I can't but wish you may be able to guess at it by what you suffer +your self: A strange Effect of the highest degree of Friendship; for if +I had less for you, I shou'd not so earnestly desire to hear you are in +Pain; but such Contradictions are no Mysteries to you, who understand +so well the little Niceties of Friendship. That you may see I study +nothing more in this Solitude than to oblige you; I've resolv'd to +employ most part of my time in complying with that Request you've often +made me, of giving you a particular account of all that has happen'd to +me in my Life; tho' I fear I shall lose part of that Esteem which you +have hitherto preserved for me, by acquainting you with some Passages of +it, which yet I hope have nothing in 'em so ill, that the kindness of a +Friend mayn't find out something in the Circumstances of the Story to +Excuse: For tho' perhaps I have not always been so nicely cautious as a +Woman in strictness ought, I have never gone beyond the bounds of solid +Virtue. To put all to the hazard then, I will give you a faithful +Account of all my Weaknesses. My Father dying, left me when I was very +young, to the Tuition of a Mother, who as you know is qualify'd for such +a Charge equal to any of her Sex; and she indeed perform'd her part as +well as her small Fortune wou'd permit her, which was scarce sufficient +to maintain her, in that Rank her Birth had placed her. However, she +gave me all the Education that was necessary; but I believe you'll +excuse me if I pass over all that occurr'd till I was Thirteen, for +about that time I began to fancy my self a Woman, and the more to +perswade me to it, I happen'd to be acquainted with a Gentleman whose +Name was _Licydon_, who the first or second time I saw him, seem'd to +have so much confidence in me, that he told me a long story of his Love, +and ever after shew'd me all the Letters he either Writ to, or received +from his Mistress: This you must think did not a little please me. and I +thought my self as Wise as the Gravest Politician, when he ask'd my +Advice in any of his Affairs, especially when I heard him commended by +many for a Man of great Parts. One day that we were by our selves, we +fell into a Discourse of Womens making Love; he Argu'd that 'twas very +unjust to deprive 'em of the satisfaction of discovering a Passion, +which they were as much subject to as Men: I said as much against him as +I cou'd, but he had more dexterity to manage his Argument than I; so +that I was easily brought to agree with him; but said 'twas well that +custom was observ'd, since the complaisance which was paid by their Sex +to ours, would sometimes oblige 'em to comply contrary to their +Inclination; for I cou'd not imagine how they cou'd civily refuse a +Lady's Intreaties. He told me if I wou'd write a Declaration of Love to +him, he wou'd shew me how it might be Answer'd with a great deal of +Respect, without any Love. I consented to do it, and accordingly did the +next day, and he return'd me an Answer which satisfied me: This, tho' it +may seem a trivial thing, you will find by the sequel, had like to have +produc'd but ill Effects. Some time after this, he brought a Friend of +his to Visit us, who was of a good Family; but according to the +_English_ custom of breeding the younger Sons to Trades; he was a +Goldsmith, but a great _Beaux_, and one who seem'd to have a Soul above +his calling: He ask'd _Licydon_ if he had any pretensions to me, which +when he assur'd him he had not, he told him he was very glad he had not +a Rival in a Friend; for he was hugely smitten, and shou'd need his +Assistance in his design; for he had observ'd such an intimacy between +us, as gave him Reason to think he had great influence over me; and he +was sure he wou'd not deny him, if he was not my Lover. _Licydon_ +assur'd him he had only a Friendship for me, and that he wou'd use all +his Credit with me to perswade me to receive all His Addresses +favourably; which he did as soon as he had an opportunity. He said all +of him that he could imagine most engaging, and especially of the +Violence of his Passion. I was well enough pleas'd with the Love, tho' +not with the Lover; for 'tis natural at that unthinking Age to covet a +croud of Admirers, tho' we despise them: But I believe I need not +confine that Vanity to Youth, many of our Sex are troubled with it, when +one wou'd think they were Old enough to be sensible of the Folly, and +inconvenience of being continually Courted, and haunted by Men they have +an indifference, or perhaps an aversion for For my part I think there is +no greater Torment; but I was of another Opinion then, and therefore +Rally'd at the Love, and seem'd not to blelieve it; which I warrant you +gave great Encouragement to my new Lover, when he heard of it; for 'tis +a great Sign one wou'd be convinc'd. So I'd best prepare my self for an +Attack, which I did not expect long: It was begun by a _Billet Doux_, +which came first to my Mother's Hands; and when she gave it me, she +ask'd what Answer I wou'd return. I told her I was wholly to be Govern'd +by her; but if I was to follow my own inclination I wou'd not answer it +at all: My Mother reply'd, she thought it fit I shou'd Answer it; for +she believ'd I cou'd have no aversion to him, and she did not think it +an ill Match, considering my Circumstances. Then I desir'd her to indite +a Letter for me, for I saw well enough I shou'd not please her. She gave +me a Copy of one, that without saying any thing that was kind, gave him +cause enough to despair; but I cou'd not dissemble my Looks and Actions, +in which he observ'd so much Coldness, that tho' several Letters pass'd +between us, that wou'd have given hopes to a Man the least apt to +presume; he was often half an hour with me alone, without speaking one +Word to me. At last he complain'd to _Licydon_ of the strange +contradictions in what I did, and what I Writ; for whenever he begun to +speak to me of his Love, I check'd him with such severe Looks, and +turn'd the Discourse in such a manner, that he durst proceed no further, +tho' my Letters seem'd much to his Advantage. _Licydon_ perswaded him +(as perhaps he thought himself) that 'twas only my Modesty, and that +perhaps I shou'd be more emboldned, if he cou'd get my Mother's consent +to his Proposals. _Berontus_, for that was his Name, was as well +satisfy'd with this, as if I had told him so my self; and away goes he +immediately to my Mother, and tells her he's stark staring mad in Love +with her Daughter: The next thing they talk of is Joynture, and +Settlements, _&c._ and in fine they agree; So I am call'd for, and +commanded to look upon this Spark as one that must shortly be my +Husband; to give us the more freedom, my Mother leaves us together. +'Well, Madam, (says he) I have no Opposites to struggle with, your +Mother has given me her consent, and you have given me hopes that you +will not refuse me yours. What shou'd I do in this perplexity? I had a +firm Resolution never to Marry him; but I found my Mother so much set +upon it, that I durst not let it be known; besides, I had engag'd my +self so far in Obedience to her, that I did not know how to come off; +but for the present I wou'd be whimsical, and take time to consider what +I shou'd do hereafter. So I put on a pet, and said, _Berontus_, I don't +know what advantage you think you have more than before; but I'm sure a +Lover wou'd have found another way of Courting his Mistress, than by her +Mother; and it may be you'll find your self never the nearer my Heart +for having gain'd her: I hate a Man that will depend upon any other for +my Favour than my self. 'Cruel Creature, _says he_, what pleasure do you +take in tormenting me? You know that I love you with the greatest +respect imaginable, and that I can't be happy but by you alone. I never +had Recourse to your Mother till you had encourag'd me, and gave me +leave to say it; your usage of me is very unjust. I knew well enough he +was in the Right; but I wou'd not know it: So that we parted both much +dissatisfied. How his Thoughts were employ'd I can't pretend to tell +you; but I was continually contriving how to get out of this troublesome +Affair. I cou'd find no way but to tell him sincerely, that all that I +had writ in his favour was by constraint; that I was too young to think +of Love, or Marriage, and so trust to his Generosity; and prevail with +him, if possible, to let it fall of his side. The first time I had an +opportunity of putting my design in Execution, I thought the poor Lover +wou'd never have liv'd to see me beyond those Years which serv'd for a +pretence for my refusal; but he was Wise enough to baulk me, 'If, _says +he_ (after he was come out of his Dumps; for he was a quarter of an hour +without saying any thing. You see he was much given to silence) 'If I +did not imagine it your Hate that only study'd an Excuse, I shou'd wait +with a great deal of satisfaction, till you were pleas'd to make me +happy: But as it is, I shall die a thousand times with fear, that some +other more happy in your inclinations than I, will rob me of you for +ever. He said in fine, abundance of fine things, to perswade me to +engage my self to him; but I wou'd not consent to it; and all I could +say to him, was as little prevalent to make him desist his suit. He +wou'd wait the Patriarch's Prenticeship rather than lose his Angel: +Would it not be a sad Business if he should lose her after all? But I am +afraid he's like, for her thoughts cannot be brought so low; they towre +a little above his Shop, perhaps too high for her Fortune; but she's +something too young to consider that, or to prefer her Interest to her +Humour. But to go on with my Story; my Mother was well enough satisfied +to have the Match delay'd; so that I thought I had nothing to do for a +Year or two, but to wish some Accident might intervene to hinder it. But +it was not long before a Servant we had in the House found me other +Employment; I had complain'd of some Negligences she had been guilty of, +when my Mother was out of Town, which were occasion'd by a fondness she +had for one that waited upon _Licydon_: Upon which she had been like to +be turn'd away, and being of a revengeful Spirit, she cou'd never +forgive it. She had observ'd, that _Licydon_ often gave me, and I him, +Letters in private; for when he had no other opportunity, he us'd to +give me those he sent, or receiv'd from his Mistress, as we were taking +leave, when I conducted him to the Door; which I often did, whilst my +Mother was entertaining other Company; and I return'd 'em when I saw him +again. This malicious Wench hoping to find something in 'em that might +prejudice me, to _Licydon_'s Man (over whom it seems she had a great +Influence) that she heard his Master was a great Poet, and that she had +a great mind to see some of his Works, if he could contrive to let her +into his Closet when he was abroad: The Servant who suspected nothing, +promis'd her he wou'd let her know the first time his Master left his +Key, which he very seldom did. He kept his Word with her, and after she +had look'd over all his Papers, at last she found that Letter which I +spoke of at the beginning. She knew my Hand well enough, and no doubt +with Joy, put it into her Pocket, without being perceiv'd by the Fellow; +and to lose no time, went presently to _Berontus_; to whom she said, +That she was extreamly concern'd to see him deceiv'd by two that he +rely'd so much upon, as her young Mistress and _Licydon_: And therefore +she could not forbear telling him, that she had discover'd an Intrigue +between 'em, and that they were so familiar, that if they were not +Married already, she was sure they wou'd be very suddenly; with +abundance of Circumstances of her own Invention, to make the Story more +plausible. He did not believe her at first; but when she show'd him the +Letter, it put him beyond doubt; so that after he had given her his +Word, whatever Measures he took, not to discover her, she went away very +well pleas'd, that she had depriv'd me of a Husband, and receiv'd a good +Reward for it. _Berontus_ did not give his Rage and Grief leave to +abate; but in the height of both, writ a Letter to _Licydon_, and +another to me. You can't imagine how much I was surprized when I read +it, and found it was a Chalenge, (for in that Confusion he had mistaken +the Direction) to one whom he accus'd of betraying him in what was +dearer to him than his Life: I cou'd not guess who it was design'd for, +till _Licydon_ came in, and show'd me a Letter he had just receiv'd, +which he believ'd was for me; and desir'd me to tell him who that happy +Man was _Berontus_ complain'd so much of. I saw plainly then he was +jealous of _Licydon_; but was not able to Divine the Cause: He gave me +the Letter which contain'd these Words; + +_Wou'd to Heaven you had told me Truth, when you said you were too young +to think of Love; you have thought of it too much_ Olinda, _for my +quiet; but you were born to Torment me. It is my Fate, why do I complain +of you? Pity me, if I fall by my happy Rivals Hand, and if you can, +forgive me if I survive him. This is the last time I design to trouble +you: I wish he may be more faithful to you than he has been to me: +Adieu, Madam, pity the unfortunate_ Berontus. + +The Letter seem'd so full of Distraction, that I cou'd not chuse but +pity him; for I really thought him Mad: But I did not think fit to shew +_Licydon_ that which was design'd for him. When he was gone I sent for +_Berontus_, but he refus'd to come, and 'twas with much ado after three +or four times sending he was prevail'd with. I told him by what means I +had seen both his Letters; but that they appear'd so great Mysteries to +me, that I sent for him to explain 'em. 'Twas long before he wou'd let +me know the Cause of his suspicions; but I was so importunate, that at +last he show'd me the Love Letter I had writ to _Licydon_: Can I have a +greater Proof than this, says he? I confess, reply'd I, you have Reason +to think as you do; but you are much deceiv'd; and then I told him upon +what occasion it was writ: I saw very well he did not believe me, and I +knew not how to convince him, unless I cou'd find _Licydon_'s Answer, +which at least wou'd clear him. I found it by good Fortune, and brought +it to _Berontus_. Read this, said I, and you'll see whether it be true, +that I Writ to _Licydon_ in earnest: You have nothing to accuse him of. +After he had read it, he cry'd out in a violent manner, I have wrong'd +the innocent _Olinda_, and I deserve to be hated by her for ever. Be not +so transported I return'd coldly enough, I may love _Licydon_, tho' he +be so indifferent: The Postscript fully clears you, reply'd _Berontus_, +and makes me not dare to ask you to forgive me: Upon which I took it, +and read these Words, which I had quite forgot. _I did not think one +cou'd write so prettily of Love, and be so insensible of it; How happy +wou'd that Man be, that shou'd receive such a one dictated by your +Heart, as well as Hand._ I am sure none cou'd return such an Answer to +_Olinda_. This Complement did me so much Kindness, that one wou'd think +I shou'd be a better Friend to 'em than you know I am. _Berontus_ left +me almost as angry at himself, as he was before at us; and did not come +near me for some time after. When I told _Licydon_ what had pass'd +between us, he was amaz'd: He Examin'd his Man, who had been in the +Chamber, who confess'd the Truth; and our Servant, when she was tax'd +with it, hardly deny'd it; and thus the whole Matter was discover'd; +which had it not been for a happy Mistake, had probably cost one, or +both of them, their Lives, and me my Honour. Two days after _Licydon_ +was Married, and so our Acquaintance broke off; for tho' his Wife came +to see me and often press'd me to keep a Correspondence with her; I +never did, for I knew she had been very Jealous of me before she +Marry'd, and I would not hazard the reviving it. _Berontus_ easily +obtain'd his Pardon of me (for you know I'm very good Natur'd) and so he +continu'd to Visit me, taking all the pains he could to please me, +without any thing remarkable happening, till three Monthes after, his +Elder Brother, who had been at his Travels, and was reported to be dead, +return'd; so that he was no longer able to keep the Conditions he had +made with my Mother; for he had nothing to live upon but his Trade; +which I afterwards heard he neglected very much, and took to that usual +remedy of Cares, Drinking: He said it was to cure his Grief for the loss +of his Mistress, and truly that is to be lamented, when the loss of a +good Estate is the Cause of it. However he is comforted for both now, +and Married to a Woman with a great Fortune. I was very glad to be rid +of my Lover, tho' I was sorry 'twas by his misfortune. + +Thus _Cleander_, you have an account of the first Adventures of my Life; +which made me early know some uneasie Hours: By the next Post I'll +acquaint you with a Catalogue of Lovers (that is, they were my _En +passant_, in taking their Rounds, and serv'd better to divert me than +the most Romantick Constancy, without giving themselves, or me any +trouble) but it's indeed time to make an end. Adieu my Friend, think of +me always, and, Write as often as you can to _Olinda_. + +[Decoration] + + + + +[Illustration: _M. V^{dr} Gucht Sculp_ + +_Olinda_. + +_Vol. 2_ _pag. 136_] + + + + +LETTER V. + + +TO proceed in Order to my Relation, I must begin with one, who in +respect of his Years as well as the time in which I knew him, demands +the Pre-eminence. He was a _Dutch_ Coll. about Threescore; Don't you +think one of his Country and Years, will make a pretty Lover? But Old as +he was, he had a Mistress in the House with him. I was younger than she, +and I believe I may say, without Vanity, I had some other Advantages +over her; so that the Old Spark had a Month's mind to me; and I, partly +to plague her, and partly to divert my self, received all his Addresses +with a great deal of complaisance. I cou'd perceive her fret within her +self, tho she durst not shew it. She was in great fear of losing him; +for the Man's Money had such Charms as aton'd for his want of 'em, tho' +he was Ugliness in perfection; (if that ben't Nonsense) and 'twas the +best Jest in the World to me, to see him squint an Amorous Glance upon +me with one Eye, whilst 'tother was watching whether she took Notice of +him; for we Lodg'd in one House together; so that I cou'd not avoid +often being with them both, nor indeed did I endeavour it; for I took a +malicious pleasure in laughing at their Follies: Since there's nothing +so ridiculous as an Antiquated Lover, who has the Vanity to believe he +is belov'd, and a Jealous Woman, who has not Discretion enough to hide +it. That I might be sufficiently entertain'd with both, one day I began +a Discourse of Young and old Lovers, preferring the last as more +Constant, more Fond, and more Solid than the First: He Smil'd, and took +me by the Hand, and gave me a thousand Commendations for the Wisdom of +my choice; Nay, and so far forgot himself, that he apply'd it to +himself, and said such passionate things as wou'd have been extravagant +from a young Fellow. She with a great deal of Heat contradicted all I +had said, and told all the Impertinences and Inconveniences one finds in +an Old Man (which she experimentally knew better than I) without +considering how far it touch'd him, she was so earnest against me. This +made him so Angry, and her so out of Countenance when she reflected so +upon what she had said, that I was never better diverted: So she did not +know what Excuse to make for her self; and in fine, the Dispute grew so +high, that at last they parted. Upon this the Coll. was hotter upon me +than ever; he pester'd me continually with his Visits, and the Brute so +little understood my Raillery, that he pretended an Interest in me, and +wou'd check me when he saw any body younger than himself with me; but I +gave him such Answers, that he did not know what to make of me. When he +had Orders for _Flanders_, he told me I must prepare my self to go with +him, and I should live as great and happy as a Queen; I said I wou'd go +withal my Heart, upon Condition his Son should be always with us: The +Old Man started, my Son, Child, what would you do with him? I think he +is fitter company for me than you, says I, and so I left him, so +asham'd, that he shunn'd seeing me ever after. He e'en went to +_Flanders_ without me, and vow'd, young as he was, he wou'd never have +any thing to do with Woman more. Thus I was rid of my Old Impertinent, +whose place was soon supply'd by one of those gay youths who never wait +for the slow gifts of pity, but Ravish little Favours from us, as if +they were their due; who make it impossible for us to think it a Crime +to give what they ask with so much boldness; and who are always +endeavouring to divert her they design to please. He Courted me with +Balls, Musick, and Entertainments, and in the midst of 'em wou'd now and +then whisper some pretty Love Maggots. I was first acquainted with him +at a Relations of mine at _Greenwich_: He was an Officer in the Army, +and was then in the Camp upon _Black-Heath_; and being very well known +in the House where I was, he came often there. He had heard several +things of me to my Advantage, (for Fame generally flatters or detracts) +as, that I sung well, was Handsom, and so forth: And I was told, that he +was very well accomplish'd, and the Neatest, Prettiest, Gentilest young +fellow that was to be seen in the whole Army: So that we had both a +great desire to see one another, and were very well acquainted the first +time we met: He told me he had a violent Passion for me, and he did not +doubt but I had a little Love for him; he came to see me every Day +whilst I was there; carried me to all the Diversions that were to be had +about the Country; and when I was going to _London_, he told me he would +soon follow me: But as soon as you come to Town, Faith _Olinda_, you +shall Write to me, as you hope to see me again; for I can't live without +hearing you Arriv'd safe. So I Writ a thousand little mad things, and +he Answer'd me at the same Rate, only a great deal of Airy Love mingled +with it. The following Week he came to see me, and from that day I was +never suffered to rest for one frolick or other: All the time he staid, +I liv'd a pleasant sort of a Life, till he went to Fight abroad, and got +two or three new Mistresses to divert, for those sort of Men never +remember the Absent; their Love never enters the Heart, nor do they +often gain ours; they seldom fail to please indeed, and they force us to +think of 'em sometimes whether we will or not; but they are neither +Discreet, nor Constant enough to go any further: I suppose he forgot me +as soon as he left me, and I was not much behindhand with him. After he +was gone, I had scarce a breathing time before another of his +Profession, more serious, and more designing, succeeded him: He had a +good Estate, and pass'd in the World for a Man of Honour, and therefore +was Received by my Mother favourably enough. I neither lik'd, nor +dislick'd him; but treated him with Civility, till I found out that his +designs were not very Honourable; and then I thought it time to alter my +Behaviour: I forbid him to see me, and when he came to our Lodgings, I +was deny'd to him, tho' he knew I was at home; upon which he left off +coming, and when some of his Comrades ask'd him the Reason, he told +them, he knew me too well, and that he did not think a Creature so young +cou'd be so Lew'd. Observe, my Friend, how unhappy Women are, who are +thus expos'd to lose either their Virtue, or their Honour; if I had +comply'd with him, perhaps none wou'd have been more careful of my Fame +than he: But how much my Choice is to be preferr'd, none but those who +have experienced the unexpressible satisfaction it gives can know. I +heard of it with a great deal of indifference, and did not so much as +hate the Author of the scandal. The next in waiting was a _French +Beaux_: He had a great stock of Wit, but more Vanity, a mighty +Flatterer, and one who took much pains to perswade credulous Women that +he lov'd them; and if he succeeded, he always forsook 'em, and sometimes +gratify'd his Vanity to their Cost, who had been indiscreet enough to +give him occasion. He laid his Baits to catch me, he Vow'd, and Swore, +and Danc'd, and Sung eternally by turns; but I was too wary to be +caught, tho' he made me a hundred Protestations, I was the only Woman he +ever did, or ever cou'd Love; follow'd me where ever I went, and in +spight of the greatest Rigour I cou'd use, wou'd not forbear haunting +me. I did not know how to free my self from the Impertinence of this +Fop; but I thought if I cou'd convince him of one Act of Inconstancy, he +wou'd not have the Confidence to trouble me any more: I had many +contrivances in Order to it, but at last I fix'd upon one that was +probable enough to take with one of his Humour. I Writ a Letter +(disguising my Hand) as from a Woman extreamly in Love with him, and +desir'd him to tell me sincerely whither he was engaged or not; for I +was too just to rob any Woman of his Heart, and too nice to be content +with a part of it. I told him if he was free, I wou'd meet him, the next +day at the Bird-Cage in the Park: He sent a very obliging answer to the +unknown Lady; and said, he was passionately in Love with her Wit; that +if her Beauty were Answerable, he must be undone; however 'twould be +such a pleasing Ruin, that he waited with the highest impatience for the +appointed hour, when he might assure her by word of Mouth, his Heart was +wholly at her dispose. Just as I had done Reading this Letter he came +in, and for a Proof of his Constancy, shew'd me that which I had sent +him, with another, which he said was the Answer he design'd to send; +wherein he told her, he was already so deeply in Love, 'twas impossible +for him to change; with abundance of fine things of the Person he +Lov'd. This was good sport for me, and I had much ado to keep my +Countenance; I us'd all my Rhetorick to perswade him to stay with me; a +thing I had never desir'd of him before, and now 'twas in vain: He +pretended earnest business, and went long before the Hour, he was so +very impatient. When he was gone, I chang'd my Clothes, took a Lady with +me, who was Privy to the Affair, and went to the aforesaid Place. We +were in Masks, and it being duskish, he did not know us; but after I had +banter'd him for some time, I discover'd my self: I cannot describe to +you the different Passions that affected him; sometimes he was in a Rage +with me for putting such a Deceit upon him, sometimes he wou'd frame +weak Excuses for what he had done, and sometimes he was not able to +speak at all for Grief, that he was not only disappointed of a new +Mistress, but had lost all hopes of gaining one he had Courted so long, +with so much Assiduity. I went home, as well pleas'd with losing one, as +I have sometimes been with making a Conquest, in full hopes I shou'd be +plagued with him no more, and I was not deceiv'd. You see, _Cleander_, +what a Miscellany of Lovers, if I may call 'em so, I have had, all of +different humours, but none that had found out the Secret to please me: +They have done enough if they contribute any thing to your diversion, +and made a sufficient Recompence for all their former Impertinence to + + _Your faithful Friend_ + + Olinda. + + + + +[Decoration] + +LETTER III. + + + _My Friend_, + +THE Reflections you made upon my two last are so Just, so Profitable, +and so Pleasant, that thro' them I see the Author's great Capacity, that +can make so good use of such little things; and while I read, bless my +kind Fate that made you my Friend, when the Good and Wise are so scarce; +and wonder how so particular a Blessing came to be my Lot; which more +than doubly satisfies for all I suffer'd by _Clarinda_'s falseness. I +believe you think it strange I never mention'd her, in any of the +Passages of my Life, since it was before many that I have told you of, +that I knew and lov'd her: But I could not have Nam'd her without some +Marks of kindness, that I either show'd, or receiv'd from her, which I +would willingly forget, and cou'd not now speak of her, but when I put +your Friendship in compensation with her Ingratitude. But since I am +fall'n upon this Subject, I will let you know a little better than you +do, the only Woman that I ever trusted, not with any Secret, for you see +I then had none of consequence; but with my Love, and in that she +betray'd me. Her Sister often told me, she was sorry to see so sincere a +Friendship bestow'd upon one that knew so little how to Value it; that +_Clarinda_ was the same to all, which she pretended to be only for me: +That she was always fondest of her new acquaintance, and wou'd +Sacrifice, or Ridicule the Old, the better to Caress 'em: But I knew +there had been some Quarrels betwixt them, and therefore wou'd not +believe it, till I found it too true; and then my partiality for her, +chang'd into as great an Error on the other hand, for I involv'd the +whole Sex in her Faults, and with _Aristotle_ (I hope one may condemn +ones self with _Aristotle_) Repented that I had ever Trusted a Woman. I +don't know whether I forgot I was one, or whither I had the Vanity to +think my self more perfect than the rest; but I resolv'd none of the Sex +was capable of Friendship; and continu'd in that Opinion till I knew +_Ambrisia_, who (if one may judge by the Rule of Contraries, convinces +me of injustice) for she is just _Clarinda_'s Antipodes. _Clarinda_ +loves new Faces, and professes a particular kindness at first sight; +_Ambrisia_ is a long time before she goes beyond Civility, and never +does but to those whom she has well observ'd, and found 'em Worthy: +_Clarinda_ will Rail at one Friend to engage another: _Ambrisia_ cant +hear an innocent person, tho' her Enemy, accus'd without defending 'em: +_Clarinda_ will be one day fond to extravagance, and the next as +indifferent for the same person: _Ambrisia_ is always the same, and +where once she loves, she never changes: _Clarinda_ is easily angry: +_Ambrisia_ is perhaps too mild. _Clarinda_ has Wit indeed, but 'tis not +temper'd by Judgment, so that it makes her often do, and say a hundred +things that call her discretion in question: _Ambrisia_ has a Solid and +piercing Judgment, one wou'd thing all she says was the Result of +premeditation, she speaks such Wise and such surprizing things, and yet +her Answers are so ready, that one wou'd Swear she did not think at all; +her Actions are always most regular; I believe she never cou'd accuse +her self of an imprudent one. This is a true and unprejudic'd Character +of both; and if you wonder how I cou'd love a Woman with such gross +Faults, I must tell you, some of them I did not know then; some I +excus'd, for I did not expect perfection, and some my partial kindness +made me cover with the Name of some Neighbouring Virtue. You know, +_Ambrisia_ has as great advantages of _Clarinda_ in Body as in Mind: I +have often heard you praise her outward Beauty, and now I have shew'd +you the Beauties of her Soul, tho' they are far greater than I can +express, give me leave to wish her yours. Forgive me if I mingle a +little self-Interest in my wishes for you, I can't resist a thought of +joy for the hopes of finding two Noble Friends in one, by such a happy +Union: Think of it _Cleander_; you only deserve one another. I know you +will bid me take your advice, and shew you the way; but I shall tell you +things that will convince you, my refusal is reasonable. I was just +fifteen years old when a particular Friend of my Mothers buried her +Husband; whose Grief was so great, that my Mother durst hardly leave +her; she staid with her Night and Day, and manag'd all her Affairs for +her. She went to _Cloridon_'s, who had had a Friendship for the +Deceas'd; (for they were forc'd to make use of that, and his Authority +in a business, wherein the Widdow had lik'd to be wrong'd) but Men of +his Quality are not always at Leisure, and must be waited on; so that +tho' my Mother went two or three times, she did not see him, and having +other Affairs of her own, and her Friends in hand, besides being oblig'd +to be much with her, she cou'd not Watch his Hours: However 'twas a +thing of too great consequence to be neglected: So she Writ a Letter to +him, and Order'd me to carry it, and to deliver it into his own Hand. I +went often to his Lodgings before I cou'd speak with him, and carry'd +_Clarinda_ with me: At last I was appointed an hour when I shou'd +certainly meet with him, and she happen'd to be so engag'd, she cou'd +not possibly go with me. I knew no body else I cou'd use so much freedom +with, and was forc'd to go alone. I did not wait long before I was +admitted, and he approach'd me with that awful Majesty which is peculiar +to him; and that commands respect from all that see him. Whilst he he +held the Letter I gave him, I look'd at him sometimes; but still I met +his Eyes, so that I cou'd not view him well, tho' I saw enough to think +him the Charming'st Man in the World: He ask'd my Name, and whose +Daughter I was? which when I told him, he said he knew my Father very +well; that he was a Worthy Man, and that for his sake he wou'd do any +thing for me that lay within his Power. I thank'd him, tho' I took it +for a Courtier's Complement, and desir'd an Answer to the business I +came about. _I will go my self instantly_, says he, _to see what can be +done in it, and give you an Account of it in the Afternoon; but there's +so much Company at my Lodgings, that 'tis not a convenient place for +you: Can't you come somewhere else?_ Yes my Lord, _says I_, very +innocently, where you please: _if you will be in a Hackney Coach then, +at Five a Clock by_ Covent-Garden _Church, I will come to you, and let +you know what I can do for your Friend_. I told him I would, and went +away very well satisfy'd with him, for I had no apprehensons of any +design, from a Man of his Character. You know all the World thinks him +the fondest Husband upon Earth, and that he never had a thought of any +Woman but his Wife, since he Marry'd her. This made me secure, and I did +not fail to go at the appointed hour. My Mother knew nothing of it till +afterwards; for I did not see her that day. When he came to me, he told +me, what he had done; inform'd himself of some things that were +necessary for him to know, that related to the business, and assur'd me +he wou'd do the Widow Justice. Then he renew'd his Promise to me with +Protestations, that I shou'd command him as far as his Authority or +Interest cou'd go; and beg'd me to make use of him either for my +Relations, or my self, when ever I had occasion. After he had made me +some Speeches of my Wit and Beauty, we parted, and as soon as I saw my +Mother, I told her all that pass'd between us. She was extreamly pleas'd +to have so great a Man her Friend; especially, one that she had no +Reason to suspect of any ill Design, since he had taken no advantage of +so favourable an opportunity as I had given him to discover himself, if +he had any; nor had not so much as desir'd to continue the +Correspondence. The next day the business was concluded more to our +satisfaction than was expected. Sometime after this, a Gentleman of my +Mothers acquaintance told her, he had a mind for a Commission in the +Army, and that he would give a considerable sum of Money to any Body +that would procure it. My Mother said she'd try her Interest, and made +me Write to _Cloridon_ about it. He sent me an obliging Answer, and +desir'd to see me at the same Place where we met before, that I might +give him an exact Account of the Person I recommended, and Answer some +Questions about him more particularly than I cou'd do by Writing. I did +so in the first part of our Conversation; and then he began to talk of +the many ills that Attend greatness, of which he said Flattery was the +chief; for it was the greatest Unhappiness to be sooth'd in ones Faults: +_But_ Olinda, continu'd he, _in you I see all that Sincerity and +Ingenuity that is requisite for a Friend, and I shou'd think my self +very Happy, if you wou'd let me see you sometimes; if you wou'd tell me +of my Faults, and what the World says of me_. You Honour me to much my +Lord, _says I_, but you have taken such care to make all Virtues your +own, that there's no room left for Flattery, or Correction. To be short, +after a great many Compliments of this Nature he told me, 'twou'd be an +Act of so great goodness, that he was sure I cou'd not deny him. But +what will the World think, _says I_, of such private Meetings? _If +neither you, nor I, tell it, it won't be known_, says he, _as it should +if I came to Visit: you. So that I may have the same Innocent Pleasure +of seeing you, which you wou'd not deny me in Publick, without making +any Noise: And since I assure you I have only a Friendship for you, it +can't shock your Virtue_. I neither granted, nor deny'd him his Request; +for I did not know whither I shou'd do the first, and cou'd not resolve +to do the last; both because it might be a hindrance to our business, +and because I was very well pleas'd with his Conversation. Nothing cou'd +be more agreeable; he is a Man of as much Sense, and as great Address, +as any I ever knew: But what is more to be commended and wondred at in a +Statesman, he never promis'd any thing that he did not perform. He gave +me his Word for the Commission I desir'd; appointed me a day when I +shou'd meet him to receive it; and kept it punctually. These were such +great Obligations, that I cou'd not but have some acknowledgments for +'em. There was nothing talk'd of in our House, but _Cloridon_'s +Generosity; and about that time, all the Town rung of some great Actions +he had then perform'd: So that all things Contributed to encrease my +Esteem of him. I Writ him a Letter of Thanks, and he told me in his +Answer, that he desir'd no other Recompence for all he cou'd do for me, +but to see me sometimes. I consider'd, that there was no danger in +seeing a Man, that was so great a Lover of his Lady; and that profess'd +only a Friendship for me: That if ever he shou'd change, I cou'd easily +forbear it, and that whatever happen'd, my Virtue was a sufficient +Guard. So I consented to it, without letting my Mother know any thing of +it. But I must delay telling you what these secret Meetings produc'd; +for time and Paper fails me, and will scarce give me leave to assure you +that I am + + _Your tenderest Friend_ + + Olinda. + + + + +[Decoration] + +LETTER IV. + + +YOU wou'd pity rather than chide me, _Cleander_, if you knew the Cause +of my not Writing to you all this while. I have not been one moment +alone for this Fortnight past, but condemn'd to entertain a mix'd +company, all of different Humours, different ways of Living, and of +Conversing; so that 'twas almost impossible to please one without +Contradicting anothers Humour. You may judge how uneasie this was to me; +for I've often told you, I had rather be all my Life alone, than with a +Company that is not chosen: That I sometimes prefer Solitude even to the +best, and that I had now retir'd to avoid the World: But I find one +never enjoys any thing without disturbance that one places one's +happiness in; and I was to blame to expect a singular Fate shou'd be cut +out for me. But whatever Accident deprives me of any thing else I Love, +I can never be unfortunate, if _Cleander_ continues to be my Friend. You +may remember I broke off my last, where I had resolv'd to see +_Cloridon_, as he desir'd. We met as often as we cou'd, extreamly to +both our satisfactions: He told me all his little uneasinesses, and had +so great a Confidence, in me, that he discover'd some Intreagues of +State to me, that are yet unknown to some that think they are not +strangers to the most secret transactions of the Court; and he never +undertook any of his own Affairs of greatest moment, without asking my +Advice. Thus we liv'd for two Months, and nothing past that gave me +Reason to repent an Action, that was not ill in it self; but might be +so by the Consequences of it, till one day, when he had been telling me +several things which concern'd him nearly: _But there's one Secret_, +says he, Olinda, _that I have never told you yet, tho' it takes up all +my Heart: But 'tis that I believe you know it too well already_. I said, +I cou'd not so much as guess at it. _What_, Olinda _interrupted, is it +possible you shou'd be Ignorant, that I am the most in Love of any Man +in the World? How cou'd you imagine, I that knew you so well cou'd have +only a Cold Respect or Friendship for you? No no_, Olinda, _I Love you; +I love you Ardently; I cannot live unless you give me leave to tell you +so; and to hope that you will one day return it_. I was so amaz'd at +this Discourse, I did not know what to Answer: It vex'd me to be oblig'd +to alter my way of Living with him; but I did not find my self so Angry +at his Love as I ought. However, I disguis'd my thoughts, and put on all +the Severity that is needful in such Cases. I have more Reason to be +displeas'd with such a Declaration from you my Lord, _said I_, than any +other: You that say you knew me so well; What have you seen in me to +Encourage it? Have I ever given you occasion to suspect my Virtue? Or is +it that you are tired with my Conversation, and therefore take this most +effectual means to be freed from it? _Inhumane Fair!_ said he, _Must you +hate me because I love you? can you Resolve not to let me see you, only +because you know I desir'd it more than before?_ In short, he said the +most passionate things that a Lover can imagine; and tho' I found he +mov'd my Heart too much, I dissembled well enough to hide it from him. +Nothing he said, cou'd prevail with me to see him, and I hop'd Absence +wou'd help me to forget him. He Writ many melancholly Letters to me, +telling me all the Court took notice of his Grief; that it would shortly +be his death, if I would not see him; and beg'd me to live with him as I +had done, and he wou'd never speak to me of his Love. But still I +refus'd, tho' unwillinglly. I was Angry at my self for thinking of him, +and for being pleas'd, when some told in Company where I was, that he +had been so out of Humour for some time, that no Body durst speak to him +of Business. I lov'd to think it was for me, and ask'd a hundred +Questions about him. But now the Publick Affairs oblig'd him to go to +_Flanders_, where he perform'd Actions Worthy of himself. His Valour, +Generosity, and Liberality were talk'd of everywhere, which still more +and more engag'd me. I cou'd not but have some Inclination for so fine a +Man, when I consider'd that he lov'd me too: However, I believ'd I had +only that Esteem for him which I thought due to his Merit, and that +Gratitude which the Obligations I had to him requir'd. But I grew +insensibly more Melancholy than Usual. One Evening that my Mother and I +were taking a serious Walk by the Canal in St. _James_'s Park, a +Gentleman of her Country, and Acquaintance, seeing us at a distance, +came to bear us Company: The Air being pretty Cool, we wore our Masks, +and after we had made two or three Turns, he saw a Friend of his, of the +same Nation, coming towards us. _That_, says he, _is_ Antonio, _Son to +my Lord ---- He is a very well Accomplish'd Gentleman, and has a good +Estate, I wish he were Married to_ Olinda. I know the Family, and have +hear'd of him, _Replyed my Mother_, I shou'd not dislike the Match. By +this time he was come up to us, and after having beg'd Pardon for +intruding, and leave to Walk with us, he turn'd of my side. He had not +seen my Face, for it was duskish, and I only made a Fashion of lifting +my Mask upon our first Compliments; but yet he said abundance of fine +things, of my Beauty and Charms. After half an Hours Conversation we +were going home, and they would needs wait upon us, but one of his +Servants met him, and told him he had been looking for him a long time; +some Friends of his that were going out of _England_ the next day, staid +for him in the Mall, and must speak with him immediately. So he left us +to the tothers Care, and went back. The first time _Antonio_ met with +his Friend, with whom he had seen us; he told him, he was so Charm'd +with the Ladies Conversation, that he could not rest till he saw her +again. He Answer'd, that he wou'd not like her if he had seen her, but +he wou'd carry him to Visit one, whose Beauty wou'd soon make him forget +her. _Antonio_ said that Wit and good Humour had far greater Charms for +him, than the finest Face in the World: But that you mayn't think me +obstinate, I will see her upon condition, that if her Eyes have not that +influence which you expect, you will make me acquainted with that Lady +whose Wit has engag'd me more perhaps than you imagine. He promis'd he +wou'd, and so left him, and came to our Lodging: He gave us an Account +of this Conversation, and desir'd us to continue the Humour, and not let +him know we had seen him before; for he fancy'd a great deal of Pleasure +in seeing me Rival my self. We agreed to it, and when they came, I +entertain'd him with the greatest simplicity imaginable: For you must +know I had an Aversion for him, which I cou'd give no Reason for (that +Passion is as unaccountable as Love) and therefore I was pleas'd he +shou'd think me a Fool, that he might not desire to see me again. I was +glad to perceive he was uneasie in my Company, and to make him the more +so, I talk'd very much, and very little to the purpose. When he was +gone, he said to his Friend, _That if_ Olinda _had the other Ladies +Soul, she wou'd be a dangerous Person; but that as she was, he cou'd no +more Love her than a fair Picture: That her Folly had only made him the +more eager to see the unknown, and therefore he claim'd his Promise_. He +_Answer'd_, that he did not know what a second sight of _Olinda_ might +do; but however not to be worse than his Word, he wou'd endeavour to +contrive a Meeting, but he cou'd not promise he shou'd see her Face, for +she was very shy of that, as she had some Reason. I was extreamly averse +to seeing him again, but this Gentleman was so earnest with me, and my +Mother said so much for it, for she was desirous to have us acquainted, +that I was almost forc'd to go; but Resolv'd not to shew my Face. He +carry'd _Antonio_ to the Park, at an appointed hour, when he said, he +heard the Lady say she wou'd be there; and we met 'em as if by chance. +We had a Conversation that wou'd have been diverting enough, if my +Hatred for him had not made me think, all he did or said disagreeable: +He told me I had been continually in his thoughts since he saw me, and +that I had made such an Impression in his Heart, as cou'd never be +alter'd. I said he must have a strange Opinion of my Credulity if he +thought I cou'd believe he was in Love with a Woman he never saw. _Ah! +Madam_, says he _how much more Charming are you Veil'd as you are than a +Beautiful Fool that can only please ones Eyes: Such a one as my Friend +here made me Visit the other day; and then he gave me a long Description +of_ Olinda, _and Related all her Discourse; which indeed was very +insipid_. We made some Satyrical Remarks upon the poor Lady, and then we +parted, tho' _Antonio_ wou'd fain have gone home with us; but we wou'd +not permit him. He was very importunate with his Friend after this, to +make him acquainted with the unknown; but he said, he durst not carry +him to see her without her leave; but he wou'd try to gain it, if he +continu'd to desire it, after seeing _Olinda_ two or three times. He +Reply'd, he wou'd endure so much Mortification, in hopes of so great a +Blessing as he promis'd him, but it must be speedy, for a Lover was +impatient; and he shou'd be better satisfied with seeing the Ugliest +Face he could imagine; than with that doubt he was in. In short, he +brought him to our Lodgings several times, and still I acted the Foolish +part; but yet he confess'd to his Friend, that I had mov'd him a little; +and he Refus'd to see me again for fear he said, that he shou'd Love a +Woman that he cou'd not Esteem: But one moments interview with his other +Charmer wou'd deprive _Olinda_ of that little part she had gain'd of his +Heart. A little after some young Ladies that I knew, were going to the +Play, and begg'd me to go with them: I was so chagrin, I cou'd not think +of any diversions; but that made them the more pressing, urging it wou'd +cure my Melancholy. So I went with them, and the first sight I saw was +_Antonio_ and his Friend. The last seeing a Lady that was not handsome +with me; it came into his thoughts to say, that was she that _Antonio_ +was in Love with. He gaz'd upon her with the greatest eagerness +imaginable, for a long time; then turning to another that was with them; +which of those two, _says he_, (pointing to her and me) do you like +best? You amaze me with that Question, _Returned he_, for I think there +is too great a Disparity between them, to leave any doubt that it must +be _Olinda_: (for he new my Name.) You wou'd alter your Opinion, says +_Antonio_, if you knew them both as well as I; for _Olinda_'s Beauty is +more than doubly Valu'd by the others Wit, and solid Judgment. But +_Olinda_ has both, _Replyed the Gentleman_; which I believe you can't +but know if you have ever talk'd with, or heard of her: For every body +gives her that Character. They Wrong her extreamly, says _Antonio_, for +she is really Foolish to deserve Pity; I never Conversed with a Woman +whose Company was so tiresome; she talks Eternally, and not one Word of +Common Sense. 'Tis impossible your Friend here, who is a very good +Judge, has often said such things of her to me, that I must think you +mistake the Woman. I have been too often with her for that, says +_Antonio_, you may rather believe my Friend Jear'd her. Then they +question'd him about it; but he Laugh'd, and said, He never saw a pretty +Woman, but he thought she had Wit enough; so that they did not know what +to make of him; but _Antonio_, who would not have been sorry to find as +much Wit in _Olinda_, as he imagin'd in one, whose outside did not +please him so well; took some pleasure in fancying himself deceiv'd; +tho' when he consider'd it seriously, he could not believe it. However +he enquired diligently of all that cou'd inform him any thing of me, +which did more confound him: For they agreed, that I was far from being +a Fool, and he cou'd not imagine to what end I shou'd pretend it: But +was Resolv'd to find it out. He came often to see us, and still found me +the same Fool, till one day when we had a great deal of Company, I was +extreamly put to it; for I did not care for making my self ridiculous to +so many; and 'twas not good Manners to be silent; however, I chose +rather to be Rude, than undeceive him: I often made as if I did not hear +when I was spoke to; but I was obliged to Answer, when one said to me, +what's the matter with you _Olinda_, that you are Dumb of a sudden? I am +sure you ought not; for if it were pardonable in any Woman to talk +always, 'twould be in you, that do it so well. I was so confused at this +Compliment, that came so _male a propos_; that I believe I did not +Answer it over wisely; but as my ill Fate would have it, a Lady in the +Company took a Paper out of her Pocket, saying, _I am resolved to make_ +Olinda _speak whether she will or not; and I will leave you to judge, +whether she does not do it well in this Song_. So she read one that I +had Writ at her desire; for she sung very well. I would fain have denyed +it, but I saw it was in vain, for Wit will out one way or other. +_Antonio_ seemed overjoyed at this Discovery, and I was as much grieved: +For no Woman had ever a greater desire to be thought Wise, than I to be +thought otherwise. He came to see me every day from that time, and when +his Friend told him, that he hoped he would not dispute _Olinda_'s Power +any longer, since she made him so absolutely forget her, whom he had +once preferred so much to her; he said, that it was not the same +_Olinda_ whom he loved, for she had chang'd her Soul. Nor had he forgot +the other, for it was that Wit, that same turn of Thought, and agreeable +Conversation which he admir'd in her, that he ador'd in _Olinda_. I do +not know, whether he ever knew, that they were both one Person, but he +did not desire to see the other. When he discovered his Love to me, I +entertained it so coldly, that he could have little hopes, but that is +the last thing that quite forsakes a Lover: And it did not hinder him +from persisting. He watched his opportunity, when he saw any thing had +pleased me, but still he was Repulsed with greater Scorn. I took delight +when he was with me, to Repeat often those Words in _Sophonisba; The +Fort's impregnable, break up your Siege, there is one for you too mighty +entered in; the Haughtiest, Bravest, foremost Man on Earth_. He +importuned me extreamly to know who this Happy Man was; and Vowed if I +would tell him, he'd never mention his Passion to me again; but I told +him, if there was such a Man, it was the same Reason he should trouble +me no more, as if he knew who he was; since that could make no +alteration in my heart: And perhaps it was a Secret; however, that I +would hear no more of his Love. He Begg'd, and Sigh'd, and Whin'd, an +Hour or two to make me Reverse my Doom; but in vain; and I was pleas'd +that he believed me in Love, tho' I did not think it my self. He +continued to Visit me without saying any thing of particular to me; and +without suspecting the Object of my Love; 'till my Mother and some +Company were talking of the great Actions _Cloridon_ had done; just as +they Named him, he looked at me, (by chance it may be) but I being a +little Guilty, thought it was designed, Blushed, looked down, and was +confused, which made me blush the more; and that was enough to fix a +Jealousie that had long possest him, and that Watched for the least +shadow of Reason to place it upon any particular person. I was so +ashamed of my self, that I was not able to stay in the Room, and when I +was gone, _Antonio_ kept up the Discourse of _Cloridon_; begun to praise +his Person, and ask'd my Mother what she thought of him. She said, 'twas +so long since she had seen him, that she had almost forgot him; but that +her Daughter had seen him lately, (and so told upon what occasion) and +that she Extolled him for the finest Man she ever saw. This confirmed +his Jealousie; and the first Opportunity he had with me, he told me some +News of _Cloridon_: And then asked me if I had ever seen him, and how I +liked him. I knew nothing of what my Mother had said; and not being +willing he should believe what I found he suspected; I answered, that I +had seen him two or three times in Walks at a distance: That I thought +he was well enough, but not so handsome as Fame had made him. There +needed no more to remove all doubt that he was his Rival; but how to +know the particular Terms we were in, was the difficulty; he knew his +Character, and thought me Virtuous, and therefore could not fear any +thing Criminal betwixt us; but he resolved to try if my Affections were +strongly engaged; and to that end he shew'd me a Letter from _Flanders_, +wherein it was told him, that _Cloridon_ (to the great wonder of all +there) had a young Lady disguised in Men's Cloaths with him all the +Campagne, and that it was discovered by an Accident, which he gave a +large Account of. I found my self seized with an unusual I know not +what, and did all my endeavours to conceal it, but I changed Colour two +or three times, and he having his Eyes continually upon me 'twas +impossible but he must observe my concern: However, he said nothing of +it to me, and I forced my self to talk of things indifferent. As soon as +I was alone, I examined my self upon the matter. Why should this trouble +me (said I within my self) who would not entertain his Love, when it was +offered me, and I have often Resolved never to see him, even when I +thought him Constant? How comes it then, that I am so Grieved and Angry +that he loves another? And that I wish with such impatience for his +Return? In fine, I discovered, that what I had called Esteem and +Gratitude was Love; and I was as much ashamed of the Discovery, as if it +had been known to all the World. I fancyed every one that saw me, read +it in my Eyes; And I hated my self, when Jealousie would give me leave +to Reason, for my extravagant thoughts and wishes: Mean while _Antonio_ +would not be Idle, he thought this was the time for him; when my Anger +was Raised against _Cloridon_; that that and my Obedience to my Mother +(if he could get her of his side, which he did not much doubt) would +induce me to Marry him; and then he did not fear, but Reason and Duty +would overcome my Love. Accordingly he had my Mother's Consent, and +entreated her to intercede for him; but all this was so far from having +that effect which he expected, that I hated him the more: I was so +unjust as to look upon him as the Cause of my Affliction, and I was so +Angry to see him take such Measures, as I foresaw must make me very +uneasie, that I treated him ill, even to Rudeness. But I will leave him +and _Olinda_ equally unhappy, till the next Post; and then give you an +Account of some Alteration in their Affairs, which if it gave her ease, +I believe a little encreased his pains. In the mean time believe, that I +remain + + _Your Friend_, Olinda. + + + + +[Decoration] + +LETTER V. + + +'TIS not possible for you to imagine, much less for me to express what I +endur'd, by my own Jealousie, and _Antonio_'s Persecution: Either of 'em +wou'd have been grievous enough, but together they were intolerable; and +I cou'd expect no Remedy, for I knew not what I wou'd have. I did not +continue one moment in the same Mind; I long'd for _Cloridon_'s Return, +and yet I resolv'd not to see him, tho' when I thought that perhaps he +would not desire it, I almost dy'd with the Fear; but that was soon +over, for a Week after _Antonio_ had shew'd me the Letter I mention'd in +my last, he came to Town, and sent me a Letter the first Night, fill'd +with the tenderest expressions of Love, and Vows, that all his Fortune +and Conquests abroad could not give him the least Joy, whilst I remained +inexorable; and a hundred Entreaties to see him once, and he shou'd die +contented. This was some satisfaction to me; but 'twas but imperfect: +Sometimes I believ'd all he said, and presently after call'd him false +and Perjur'd: One while I resolv'd not to answer him, and the next +Minute chang'd my Mind; but I was long before I cou'd fix upon what to +say. At last I writ with a great deal of affected coldness, only I gave +him some dark Hints of the Lady I had heard was with him, which in his +Answer he said, he did not understand. He writ several times to me by +private Direction, which I had given him when I believ'd he was only my +Friend; but a little after he sent to our Lodgings, to tell me, that he +had a Place at his disposal, which if I had any Friend that wou'd accept +of it, was at my Service. My Mother made me return him Thanks, and tell +him, that I had a Relation who was very fit for the Employment, who +shou'd wait upon him, but he was not now in Town. _Cloridon_, who +desir'd no better occasion, sent me word, that if I wou'd let him see +me, he wou'd tell me what was to be done in it; for it was not a thing +to be neglected, because there were a great many pretended to it, who +might get it by some other means, since it did not wholly depend on him. +I did not know what pretence to make to hinder my going, for I durst not +tell my Mother of our Meeting without her knowledge: And perhaps I was +glad of the necessity of seeing him, since it took away the Fault, and +serv'd for an excuse both to my self and him; tho' I was sorry to be +forc'd to receive new Obligations from him. I never saw a Man in such an +extasie of Joy, as he appear'd to be in at this Interview: He was +Speechless and Motionless for a long time, and when he spoke, 'twas with +so passionate and charming Words and Air, that I was not able to say +those severe things I design'd. I check'd him for obliging me to see +him, after I had refus'd him so often, that he might know 'twas contrary +to my Inclinations; but (as he told me since) he saw something in my +Eyes which made him think, I was not very Angry with him: And when I +explain'd that part of my Letter which hinted of the Lady, I did it in +such a manner, that he believ'd me Jealous. At first he seem'd amaz'd at +what I told him, but afterwards he deny'd it so coldly, and took so +little pains to perswade me 'twas false, that I was enrag'd; which still +discover'd my Weakness the more. He found one pretence or other for +delaying the Business, and for seeing me two or three times, and took +pleasure in heightning my Jealousie; till he thought, if he trifled with +me any longer, he might lose me for ever: And then he begun to protest +seriously, There was no such thing, that it must be the invention of +some particular Enemy of his; for if I wou'd give my self the trouble to +enquire, I should find it was no general Report, and 'twere impossible +it shou'd not be known by every Body, if what I had heard was true. We +easily believe what we wish; and when I consider'd from whom I had the +Story, I much doubted the truth of it: And whilst I saw him, and heard +him Swear, he had never had the least inclination for any other Woman +since he saw me. I was firmly perswaded of his Fidelity; but my +suspicions return'd a little, as soon as I left him. He told me, he +cou'd willingly forgive the Invention, since it had occasion'd the +discovery of my Sentiments, which were to his Advantage; but reply'd, +That he need not much boast of what my Weakness had reveal'd; for tho' I +cou'd not now deny that my Heart took too great a part in what concern'd +him, yet since he knew it, nothing shou'd prevail with me to see him +again; and so I left him: But I cou'd not forbear saying at parting, +that he had made me very unhappy, and I wish'd I had never seen him, +tho' I condemn'd my self a hundred times for it afterwards. I ask'd of +all I knew that had been in _Flanders_, or had any Correspondence there, +if they heard of _Cloridon_'s having a Lady Disguis'd with him; but they +assur'd me, there was not so much as the least Report of it, which +pretty well satisfied me as to that: For every Action of a Man of his +Quality, and in his Post, is so narrowly observ'd, that a thing so +extraordinary cou'd not have been a Secret; but yet I was very desirous +to know upon what ground that Letter was writ to _Antonio_. However I +wou'd not examine him about it, because I saw he suspected my Love +already, tho' he had never told me; but still continued my most +assidious Humble Servant and Tormentor: And I think I was not much in +his Debt, for I really treated the poor Man Barbarously. My Mother gave +him all the opportunities she could, and one day that she had some +business that would keep her out till Night; she left me at home, and +gave Orders that no body should be admitted to see me but _Antonio_. I +was so vexed at this Command, that I resolved to revenge my self upon +him, and when I heard the Noise of one coming up Stairs, I prepared to +give him the rudest Reception I could: I sate Reading with my back +towards the Door, and did not rise when he came in, till I saw a Man +kneeling by my side; and then without looking towards him, I got up and +walked to the other end of the Room. _What, Madam_, says he, _is my +Offence so great? Or do you hate me so much, that you will not hear me +ask for Pardon?_ I found something in the Voice soft, and moving, which +struck me like one I was accustomed to be pleased with; and turning +about, I was amazed, Good God, _cryed I_, is it possible? Are you +_Cloridon_; or do I Dream? How could you come here?----, _How could I +forbear coming so long?_ interuppted he, _or how can I live a moment +from you? I must see you_ Olinda, _whatever I hazard, and since you +refused to let me a securer way, how could I neglect so favourable an +opportunity_? Then I desired to know by what means he knew, that I was +alone; and he told me, that since the last time he saw me, and that I +had been so good as to own my self sensible of his Love, he had had a +hundred Plots and Contrivances to see me; but found none so feasible as +that, which he had put in Execution. He sent a Servant whom he confided +much in, and Ordered him to try all means possible to know my Motions +when I went out, and when I was at home alone; and he had found the way +to gain the favour of a Servant that belonged to the Landlord of the +House, (no doubt he feted her well,) and she had engaged to be secret, +and to send him word when I was alone; but she did not know for whom she +did this Service; only he had told her, that it was a Man of Quality +that was in Love with me, and desired to see me privately, to know how I +was affected towards him, before he declared himself publickly. He came +to her that morning, and she told him, my Mother was gone out, and that +she heard her say, she should not come Home 'till Night; so that if he +would come with the Person that was to see me, she would be at the Door +to conduct him to me: When they came, she told them, that a Gentleman +that courted me had been there just now, but she denied that I was at +home on purpose to oblige him. I was angry that he should take so little +care of my Reputation; but he said, that it was not at all in danger, +for no body knew of it but that Servant who would not tell it for her +own sake; or if she did, she saw that 'twas all without my Knowledge. +That if I would not give my Consent to see him abroad, he should do +something more extravagant that might expose both me and him: But if I +would, he'd promise never to speak of his Love to me. In sine, by +Threatnings and Intreaties, and my own Inclination, I was prevailed +with, after I had made him swear not to mention his pretended Passion. +Forgive my Frailty, dear _Cleander_, it was not possible for me to +refuse the Man I loved any thing that could admit of excuse, and I found +or made Arguments enough to sooth my Inclination, and persuade me it was +no Fault only to see him. I hastned him away for fear he should be seen +with me, but he lingred on for two or three hours and just as he was +going I heard _Antonio_'s Voice asking for me, so that he could not go +out without meeting him. I was extreamly vexed, but this was no time to +fret or chide. I desired him to step into a Closet, which I had in the +Room; where I kept my Books, and told him I would contrive a way to be +rid of the other quickly. When I had Locked him in, I took my Hoods and +seemed to be putting them on, in order to go abroad, so that _Antonio_ +could not in good Manners stay; but he desired, since he was so unhappy +as to be deprived of that satisfaction he expected in my Company, that I +would lend him some Book to divert his Melancholy. I told him, that he +would have found so little in my Company, that he needed not much mourn +for the loss of it: But as my ill Fate would have it, he was so pressing +to borrow a Book, that I knew not how to refuse it; I turned the +Discourse and sat down, and said, I had altered my Resolution, and would +stay at home. _Antonio_ wondred at this mighty Favour, he was so unused +to receive any from me, that he was Transported at it: He thanked me for +it a hundred times, and I believe presaged no little good Fortune for +him from such a Change, tho' my way of entertaining him, gave him no +great encouragement. If I should give you a particular Account of our +Conversation, it would be as impertinent to you, as it was troublesome +to me; I will only tell you, I never passed an Hour with half so much +pain as that, having for addition to the usual uneasiness his Company +made me endure, that of the unseasonableness of the time. Whilst I was +fretting at this unhappy Accident, and fearing he would not go away till +my Mother came home, our Landlord's Maid came to tell me, there was one +below would speak with me: I went down and saw it was that Servant of +_Cloridon_'s, which he had spoke of to me; he told me, that the King had +sent twice for his Lord, and desired me to tell him, that he must of +necessity go presently, for the business was of importance. This was a +new Vexation; and I staid some time to deliberate what I should do, and +at last, resolved to say I was sent for by a Lady that was Sick, that so +_Antonio_ might be obliged to leave me. But how was I surprized, when I +returned and found _Cloridon_ in the Room! I needed not dissemble an +astonishment, for I was as much amazed to see him there, as if I had not +known he was in the House. He advanced towards me, with a Ceremonious +Bow, saying, _You have Reason, Madam, to wonder, and to be Angry at me? +but when you know, that it is the general Frailty of Mankind that +brought me hither, your goodness sure will pardon me: I mean Love, +Madam, Love which makes the Wisest Men guilty of the greatest +Irregularities_. I blushed at what he said, not apprehending his design, +and told him his being there, and his Discourse were both so mysterious +to me, that I did not know what to answer him. He said, he thought +himself obliged to tell the Truth, since my Reputation would be in +danger by concealing it: But first he must beg me to pardon the Servant +of the House, and not to let her Master know of it; for he having taken +a fancy to her, had wheedled her into a Consent, to let him come and see +her, tho' the Wench was very honest: That our Family being all abroad, +she had brought him into that Room, and hearing me returned, she had put +him into the Closet, believing I would go out again: But finding I staid +long, he had entertained himself with my Books, and in removing some had +thrown down others, the noise of which had made _Antonio_ open the Door; +and since it was his Fortune to be discovered in a Foolish thing, he +hop'd the Gentleman and I, would let it go no further. We gave him our +Word for it; and when he was gone, we both sat silent for a long time, +each expecting what t'other would say: At last he begun. _Cloridon_ was +hard put to it, to be forced to discover such a secret; he that has +acquired the Reputation of Chast, found out to be so little Nice, as to +take such pains, for one of so mean Quality, and one that has not many +things to recommend her. You have the Luck, _said I_, to find out +_Cloridon_'s Intreagues, when no body else knows any thing of 'em: And +he may thank his Good Stars his secret falls into such hands; if you are +as careful of this, as you have been of that in _Flanders_, which no +body but you has ever heard of. _I shall certainly conceal it Madam_, +replyed he, _for your Fame sake; for the malicious World would be apt to +fancy his thoughts were something higher than a Dirty Wench, when he was +put into your Closet: But I am to believe what you please, and if you +tell me you never saw him before, but in Walks at a distance, I won't +doubt of it_. I am not much concerned what you, or any thinks of me, +_says I_, my satisfaction does not depend upon Opinion: And I shall be +always happy, as long as I am innocent; whether you believe me so or +not. However I owe so much to Truth, to assure you, that whatever +designs _Cloridon_ had, I knew no more of his coming here than you did, +and that I am very Angry at him for it. _If you had not told me so +Madam, I should, it may be, have thought you would rather have lent me a +Book, than endured my Company so long (which you always used to avoid) +but that you feared I should see him, if you opened the Closet; but I am +very glad, you will have me interpret your staying with me more to my +advantage._ I was vexed he should think it was to oblige him; and since +I found he was Master against my Will, of the greatest part of my +Secret, I thought it best to make him a Confident of it, which would +prevent his Addresses to me, and engage him to the greater Fidelity. I +told him then, all that was betwixt us; and he gave me some good +Counsels, not to cherish a Love, or entertain a Correspondence that +might in the end prove dangerous, considering his Circumstances; but I +was too far gone to take them, and besides, coming from a Rival, I did +not make much Reflexion upon them. Advices by an interested Person, tho' +never so reasonable, are not minded, or at least are much suspected, +especially when they contradict the inclination of the Advised. I did +not tell him, I had consented to see _Cloridon_, because I resolved not +to tell him any thing, but what I could not conceal. I did not see +_Antonio_ in a Month after, but he sent often to ask how we did, and +said, _he was very ill himself_. He Writ once to me, to tell me he was +endeavouring to overcome a Passion, which he found was displeasing to +me, and which therefore must make him very unhappy; and to beg me, if he +could effect it, to accept him as a Friend, and not continue that hatred +for him then, which I had for my Lover. Mean while, the too Charming +_Cloridon_ and I met together often: At first we entertained one another +with all the News, and little Intreagues of the Town; he put so entire a +Confidence in me, was so pleased to see me, and so obliging to me, and +my Relations upon all Occasions, that I then thought my self happy, to a +degree that left no Room for Wish; for he gave me the greatest evidences +of his Love, without speaking of it to me, which was all I could desire +from a Man, whose Love I preferred to every thing but Virtue; and who I +could not hear talk of it without a Crime: But how easily are we drawn +in by such steps as these, to things we had made the strongest +Resolutions against. In some time he made Complaints to me, and spoke of +his Passion in a third Person, so that I might understand him, but I +could not be angry with him; and I knew not how insensibly, and by +degrees I accustomed my self to hear of his Love; at first defending my +self against it, and chiding him for breaking his Word; but his Excuses +seemed to me stronger Reason than my Accusations; and at last I +suffered it with Pleasure, and without Reluctancy. Thus my unwary Heart +entangled it self more and more, pleasing it self with its own Folly, +without looking backward or forward; happy for the present on all sides, +for now I was no longer troubled with _Antonio_. He after a Months +absence came to see me, and told me, he desired nothing of me now but my +Friendship, and to convince me, he was not my Lover, he would tell me a +secret in favour of _Cloridon_, if I would promise to forgive him; I +told him I would, and then he gave me that Account which I have given +you, of his first suspecting my Love, and how to try it, he had feigned +that Letter which he shewed me; that he had resolved to undeceive me, as +soon as he had discovered what Sentiments I had for him; but when he saw +how it affected me, Jealousie would not give him leave, and love +prompted him to make use of it to his own Advantage. He added, that tho' +Love had made him guilty of Treachery so much contrary to his Nature, +yet I should always find him the most sincere, and the most faithful of +his Friends. Tho' I believed before that Story to be an invention; you +cannot imagine how much I was pleased, to be sure of it now. I easily +pardon'd him, since I had promised it, and since I thought he deserved +it, having told it voluntary. From that time I received him more +favourably than I used to do, and took some pleasure in his +Conversation, because he was the only Man that knew of my Love, and that +I could talk with freely of _Cloridon_. But now my Mother perceived I +had some more complaisance than before for _Antonio_; she wondred he +talked nothing of Marriage to her, and told me her thoughts, which put +me upon new contrivances, how I might shun her Anger, and yet _Antonio_ +come off with Honour. I found him raise scruples against all the Methods +I would invent, and often he asked me, if I design'd never to Marry, +and what Reasons I could always give for not doing it; which made me +apprehend he was not altred so much as he seemed; and fear I should have +some trouble in this Affair, he had told me, that when he was very +young, his Father had contracted him to a kinswoman of his, that lived +in the House with them, who had a great Fortune, and he heard was +handsome, and witty; but he went to his Travels before it could be +known, whether she was either so; that he had never had any Love for +her: I had a great mind to let my Mother know this, for I knew she was +scrupulous in such things, and would not consent to Marry me to a Man, +that had any engagement to another; but I was loath to do it, without +his leave, since he was so sincere as to tell it me, and because I was +afraid to exasperate him. I took a great deal of Pains to flatter him +into a complyance; I told him my Mother could not have the worse Opinion +of him for it, since it was a thing done when he was so young, and that +he could have no other Reason to hinder him, now that he had no design +upon me, which if he had, I should find other ways to disappoint them, +tho' perhaps they might make me more uneasie. At last, with much +difficulty he agreed to it, and when I told it to my Mother, I found her +affected as I wish'd; which when _Antonio_ knew, he fetched a great +Sigh, and only said, _Have I lost all my hope then, Madam?_ and so went +away extreamly discomposed. A while after he came to take leave of us, +and said his Father had sent for him in haste, to go to his own Country; +but he told me in private, that he could stay no longer in a place, +where he grew every day more and more unhappy; and that now he had +resolved to leave it: He could not forbear telling me, that he had only +concealed his Love all this while, to get into my Favour, and in hopes +of finding something which might give him hopes. But since I had now +deprived him of all, he would not encrease his Misery, by seeing every +day the Objects of his Love, and of his Hate, his cruel Mistress, and +his happy Rival. I am told his Father presses him extreamly to Marry, +being his only Son, but he waves it. I should think I had given you a +Description of a Miracle of Constancy in spight of Rigours and Absence; +but that in this Age, kindness is a more effectual way to cure Love; an +unlucky thing, since no body will attempt it, that has that design; but +I, (or Fortune for me,) found you see, a less dangerous way to free my +self, with more ease than I could hope, and I think it is time to +deliver you now, and give you a little respite till next Post, when you +may expect the continuance of the History of + + _OLINDA_. + +[Decoration] + + + + +[Decoration] + +LETTER VI. + + +IF I did not know to the contrary by my own Experience; you wou'd make +me believe, that Friendship and Love can't be contain'd in one Breast. +Is it possible you can be so much taken up with _Ambrisia_, that you +have not time enough to tell me of it; and that in this Solitude, I +should hear of _Cleander's_ Affairs from two or three, before I knew any +thing of 'em from himself: They tell me you are every day with your New +Mistress, and that you are well receiv'd there. I should be pleas'd with +it, if I did not fear, instead of finding two Friends, to lose that one, +whose Friendship I prefer to all other things: But you'll make me almost +Jealous of her if you don't write quickly, for this is my fourth since +I've heard from you. Tell me _Cleander_, you that search into the Nature +of things, that know the Passions of Men; how they are form'd in the +Soul, and by what means, and what Degrees they rise; tell me how I may +give that Awe, that fear, or that Respect which I hear often talk'd of, +that makes Men not dare to tell a Woman that they love her. Is it the +Grave, the Sour, the Proud, or modest Looks? Or is there no such thing, +but in Songs and Romances? For my part, I could never meet with it; and +tho' perhaps there is some Pleasure in being belov'd, I cannot endure to +be told of it, unless by the Language of the Eyes, or so; for that we +need not understand: But there's nothing so dull, or so troublesome to +me, as a declar'd Lover: This Reflection was occasion'd by an Adventure +happen'd to me two days ago; a Stripling of Eighteen, whose Father and +Mother had been Servants in the Family where I am, said to one in the +House (who told me) that he was in Love with me, and after had the +Insolence to tell me himself, that he was in Love; _But you little think +with whom, Madam_, added he; and just as he was going to finish his +Declaration, by good Fortune he was call'd away: Can any thing be more +provoking? Teach me where to place my Anger, on the Men, or on my self. +_Antonio_ was bashful to a Fault in other things, and yet he did not +fear to say all he thought, and it may be more to me. _Cloridon_, who +treated me with the highest Respect imaginable, discover'd his Love to +me, as soon as he knew it himself; and many have pretended it, that +never felt any, at least for me. The last indeed had encouragement +enough, not to repent of what he had done, and Reason not to despair of +any thing he could ask; so that after being two Years contented with my +Love, he resolv'd to put it to the Trial, and begun to pretend to +Favours, with all the Arguments he could invent, or find, to perswade me +of the innocence and lawfulness of what he ask'd: You may find what +influence they had upon me by the following Lines, which he sent me in a +Letter next day. + + +I. + + _NOT one kind Word, not one relenting Look? + The harsh, the cruel Doom to mitigate? + Your Native Sweetness, ev'n your Eyes forsook; + They shin'd, but in the fiercest form of Hate._ + +II. + + _Is't Honour does these Rigid Laws impose; + That will no sign of gentleness allow; + That tells you 'tis a Crime to pity Foes, + And bids you all the utmost Rigour show?_ + +III. + + _All Praise the Judge, unwilling to Condemn, + Where Clemency with Justice long Debates: + But he who Rig'rously insults, we blame, + And think the Man more than his Sin, he hates._ + +IV. + + _Dare I my Judge accuse of Cruelty? + When at her Feet she saw her Slave implore, + With hasty Joy she gave the sad Decree: + I hate you, and will never see you more._ + +V. + + _Ay! 'tis too plain, the false_ Olinda'_s pleas'd + To see the Captive's Death her Eyes had made: + As what she wish'd, she the Occasion seiz'd; + No Sigh a kind Reluctancy betray'd._ + +VI. + + _If you intend to try your Power or Skill, + A Nobler way pursue the great Design: + The meanest Wretch on Earth knows how to kill; + But to preserve from Death's an Act Divine._ + +VII. + + _Like Heav'n, you with a Breath can Recreate + Your Creature, that without you does not Live: + Say that you Love, and you r'voke my Fate; + And I'm Immortal if you can forgive._ + +VIII. + + _My fiercest Wishes you shall then restrain, + And Love that tramples o'er my Heart subdue: + What doubt can of your mighty Pow'r remain, + When ever that submits and yields to you?_ + +I believe I spoke from my Heart, when I told him I hated him; I'm sure I +thought so then, when I saw him whom I believ'd to have an Esteem and +Respect for me, act as if he had neither. I said the most violent things +I could imagine against him, and left him without the least Reluctancy: +But my Rage, or Hate, was soon converted to a Quiet Stupid Grief, that +overwhelm'd my Soul, and left me not the Power of easing it the common +way, in Tears or Complaints. I saw that I must resolve never to see him +again, whatever it made me endure: And in fine, I saw all that could +make me unhappy, without any hopes of a Remedy; for tho' he writ to me +often to beg my Pardon, and Vow'd a thousand times he wou'd not be +guilty of the same fault again, tho' he were sure to be successful; yet +I prevail'd with my self absolutely to refuse to see him, with more +Resolution than I thought my self capable of; for I consider'd it was +dangerous to trust him, notwithstanding his Protestations, since he had +broke his Word before: And I don't know if I had not some Reason to +distrust my self, after having gone so far, as not only to suffer him +to talk to me of his Love, but to own mine to him. When he saw this +would not do, he had recourse to his old way of Writing upon Business; +but the Letter came first to my Hands, and so I stifled it, and said +nothing of it to my Mother. A Week after a Porter came to me, and said +he was sent by the Countess of ---- who desir'd me to go immediately to +her Lodgings, for she had something of great Consequence to tell me, and +that he left her at a place where she had Din'd, but she was just going +home. Away I went, and when they told me she was not at home, I thought +she would not fail of being there presently, and went up Stairs to Stay +for her: When I came into the Room, I saw _Cloridon_ there, and wou'd +have retir'd; but he civilly hinder'd me, and told me, he was waiting +for his Cousin (for this Lady was nearly related to him) whom he +expected to come in very soon; but 'twas a great happiness I came +before, and more than he cou'd have hop'd for from Fortune; for at first +he pretended it was Chance brought us together there; but he knew I must +find it out, and so to prevent my discovering it to the Lady, he told +me, that coming to Visit her, and not finding her at Home; it came into +his thoughts to send for me in her Name; for he knew that she us'd to +visit me, and often desir'd me to go abroad with her, or to bear her +Company at home; so that he hop'd he might succeed without being +suspected. I was in great confusion, and very angry at the Trick he had +put upon me; and yet I could not but be a little pleas'd at it too. I +lov'd to see him, and was glad of an opportunity to give him his Pardon, +which I did, but made a Vow never to consent to meet him in private, +tho' he begg'd it upon his Knees above an Hour, and said he would not +rise till I had granted it: I suppose he was not so good as his Word; +but I left him in that posture, and before I went away, and charg'd him +not to write to me any more. This Interview serv'd but to increase my +melancholy; I indulg'd it a long time, and thought upon nothing but what +sooth'd and added to it: But at length considering the occasion of my +misfortune, it represented itself to me, not only as my Folly, but my +Crime; and then I concluded it must be a Crime to grieve for the loss of +that, which 'twas a Crime to Love; and so fix'd a resolution of +overcoming my Passion, which I endeavour'd to do by Reason, and by +Diversions. Had I had you my Friend to assist me with your Counsels, I +had found it much less difficult; but now I had the strongest part of my +self to Combat without any Aid: I often gave Ground, and sometimes +suffer'd my self to be vanquish'd by the bewitching Reflections of what +unequall'd Satisfactions I had found in his Company, and how many happy +hours I enjoy'd with him; but some good Thought would rouse my Soul to +strive again, and then the Victory was mine. I find by Experience 'tis +but bravely, heartily, and thoroughly Resolving upon a thing, and 'tis +half done: There's no Passion, no Temptation so strong, but Resolution +can overcome: All is to be able to Resolve; there's the Point, for one +must lose a little of the first Ardour before one can do that; and many +of our Sex have ruin'd themselves, for want of time to think. 'Tis not a +constant settled purpose of Virtue will do; there must be particular +Resolutions for a particular Attack; 'Tis easie enough to say, no Man +shall prevail with me to do an ill thing; the difficulty is, such a Man +shall not; he that I love, he that 'tis Death for me to deny any thing +to: There I got the better of my self, and as last attain'd to a calm +serenity of Mind, which I have enjoy'd ever since, as much as can be +expected in such a World as this; and which nothing can disturb, if you +continue to have that Friendship for me which you have profess'd, and +which your Silence makes me almost doubt of; but there's hardly any +thing I could not more easily believe, than that _Cleander_ is False or +Inconstant. Write quickly, for I am impatient to know the Cause of this +unkindness to + + _Your constant Friend_, + + OLINDA. + +[Decoration] + + + + +LETTER VII. + + +_AMbrisia's_ Cruel, Coy, Disdainful, and you believe she hates you; and +yet _Ambrisia_ took occasion at Play to impose upon you as a Penance, +not to write for a Month to one she believ'd you lov'd. If this had been +another's Case, you wou'd have discover'd that _Ambrisia's_ Jealous. +Trust me, she loves you, and only puts on the usual Disguises of Women +as sincere as she is; and give me leave to justifie her, and the rest of +our Sex in that Case: You have learn'd so well to feign Love, when you +have none, that 'tis very hard to discern Art from Nature; and 'tis but +reasonable we should be allow'd the less Guilty part of concealing ours, +till we can know whether you are sincere: Besides, we know those things +are most valu'd, that are obtain'd with most difficulty; and your +natural Inconstancy gives us Reason to use all means to make you prize +us as much as we can. Your selves too, encourage us in it, for you +despise a Woman that's easily gain'd, tho' you rail at the Dissembler; +and we can't begin to love just when you would have us; so that both for +our own sake and yours, 'tis sometimes necessary to deceive you: And I +believe I may add, that there is a Natural Modesty in some Women, that +makes 'em asham'd to own their Love. Mr. _Dryden_ in his _State of +Innocence_, gives our Mother _Eve_ a little of that; tho' some are of +Opinion, it had its Birth from your faithlessness; and that if you had +not been false, we had never been shie. If it be so, don't you think we +have Reason to be cautious in a thing of such Weight; But I need not +take such pains to defend this Cause, for mine was a Fault on the other +hand, a too easie discovery of my Love: And to speak the Truth, whatever +we are accus'd of, I believe that's the more general one. 'Tis only +those that are as Wise as your Mistress, that can have so much Command +over themselves, as to be guilty of the 'tother; tho' if she knew you as +well as I do, she wou'd find that she has no need to make use of any +Arts to try you, or to preserve you: However don't despair, the Mask +will soon fall off. You have Reason to wonder at my breaking off with +_Orontes_, since by what I have told you, _Cloridon_ cou'd be no +occasion of it: But suspend your amazement a little, tho' my Misfortunes +ended at Seventeen, my Adventures did not, and several things have +happenn'd to me in the Year I have pass'd since, which you are yet a +Stranger to. You neither know how my Acquaintance begun with _Orontes_, +nor why it ended. In the beginning of last Summer, when I was +endeavouring to divert my Love and Grief, I went with a Lady to see a +Play: She was not in humour to Dress, and would needs have me go +_Incognito_; and as we were coming out of the Play-House, we were seiz'd +upon by two Sparks, who swore they would not part with us; but that +either we should Sup with them, or they wou'd go with us. We did not +know how to be rid of these Impertinents, but we saw, if we took Coach, +we could not hinder them from going into it; so we resolv'd to walk to +our Mantua-maker, who liv'd hard by; and when we went in they left us, +as we thought: but a quarter of an hour after, they came up Stairs, and +tho' we were very angry at the Rudeness, yet they staid a pretty while; +and he that had at first apply'd himself to the other Lady, was very +pressing to be acquainted with her; but my Spark sat down just opposite +to me without saying a Word, only sometimes desir'd his Friend to go +away; which after he had plagu'd us half an Hour, they did: The next +Week I went to _Tunbridge_ with my Mother; and the first sight I saw at +the Wells, was this Gentleman: He came towards us very respectfully, and +said he was very glad of this opportunity of begging my Pardon, for the +Insolence he had been guilty of; he hop'd the Lady who was with us, whom +he had the Honour to know, would intercede for him. She that was in the +Country with us, and who you know is an intimate Friend of ours, +happen'd to be very well acquainted with him; and when we came home, she +told me that his Name was _Orontes_; that he was a Gentleman who had but +a small Fortune; but to repair it, he was Marry'd to a rich Widow above +Threescore and ten; that tho' she was very ill Natur'd, he was the best +Husband in the World to her, but he would take his pleasure abroad +sometimes, and she was extreamly Jealous. He came to visit this Lady, +and entreated her to carry him to see me; for he said he was sensible of +the Affront he had given me the first time he saw me, and that he was +very desirous of some Occasion to serve me; and he thought himself +obliged to tell me so, and to seek all Opportunities of doing it. She +consented to it; and he came often to see us, and was very obliging to +us. I will let you know my thoughts of him, because you can tell me if +they are just; for he said he was not the same Man with me as with any +Body else: He seem'd to me to have Wit enough, but 'twas rough and +unpolish'd; nothing of that Politeness which renders a Man agreeable in +Conversation. After the common Theams of the Weather, and News were +discuss'd, playing at Cards, or taking the Air, were certainly propos'd: +But I have heard, that in other places he was very entertaining, and had +a hundred pleasant Stories to divert the Company. What can be the reason +of this? I am sure he stood in no awe of me, as his future Actions +shew'd; and he always told me his Thoughts freely, but plain and blunt, +without giving 'em the turn of Gallantry, which is necessary to take; +and yet he could not want Breeding, for he always convers'd with People +of the First Quality. The Manner is often more look'd upon than the +Thing; and tho' I'm as little pleased with Forms as any Woman, yet in +some things 'tis the essential part; there are few Men, whose Esteem or +Respect I covet; but I would have all Men keep that distance with me, as +if I gave 'em Awe; but I could never obtain it of 'em; tho' none ever +gave me so much occasion to lament it as _Orontes_. Once, when he was at +our Lodging, my Mother was talking of a Journey she design'd the next +day about Ten Miles off, where she was to stay all Night: He asked me if +I went with her: I said _No_; and desired my Mother to return as soon as +she could; because I should be alone till then. It seems (as he told me +since) he had made an Appointment with a particular Friend of his about +Business of Importance; but having been long desired to see me alone, he +would not neglect this Occasion, and sent him an Epistolary Excuse in +these Words: + +_My Wife thinks I am with you, but_ Olinda _told me she shall be alone +to day, and I don't know when I shall meet with so favourable an +Opportunity; so that you must excuse me; but I'll certainly see you to +morrow_. + +His Wife, being always suspicious of Letters she did not read, went to +the Post-House after this: They made no scruple to give it her; because +they knew 'twas one of their Servants had brought it; and when she had +read it, she went home in all haste, and had her Husband dog'd to my +Lodgings. When he came there he told me, that the first time he saw me, +he lik'd my Shape and Mien, and was extreamly taken with my Face, that +he durst not so much as ask me Pardon whilst he saw me so angry; and +that since he was acquainted with me, my Humour had charm'd him so, that +he could be content to leave all the World for me: And then, Laughing, +ask'd me, If I could live with him, and he would keep me a Coach, and +let me want nothing I could desire. I rally'd with him till he begun to +talk more seriously, and then I check'd him for his Insolence; but it +had no effect upon him; And when he saw that neither Promises nor +Intreaties could move me, and that Opportunity favour'd him, he resolved +to try what Violence would do; he had sent our Servant a Mile off for to +fetch some Fruit, which, he said, was the best about the Country; and we +were in a back Room near no Body in the House, so that I was in great +Fear; however I made all the noise and Resistance I could, and was +happily delivered by his old Lady's coming in: She might easily perceive +we were both in Confusion, tho' she hardly guess'd the true Cause; and I +was so good natur'd as not to tell it her. When she rail'd, we bore it +with a great deal of Patience, and indeed I wonder'd at his Moderation: +I really thought he would have let her beat me to revenge his Cause; but +he was not so much a Brute, he hinder'd her, and very civilly led her +away. The next day I saw him at the Wells, and whilst my Company was +Raffling, he took the opportunity to talk with me, though I avoided him +with all the Diligence I could. _Don't frown upon me, Olinda_, says he, +_you ought to forgive me; Repentance is all that Heaven requires, and I +never in my Life did an Action that troubled me so much; but if you have +not good Nature enough to pardon me upon that, I must say something to +excuse my self: If I believ'd you Virtuous before, it must be by an +implicit Faith; but the way to be sure was to try it; and now I shall +always admire that Virtue I could not subdue: Why then should you be +angry with me any longer than my Fault remains?_ Though I had a little +Prejudice against him, I thought he spoke with more Eloquence, and a +better Grace, than ever I heard him before; it may be his Concern +inspir'd him; but 'twas to little purpose, for I was inexorable. I told +him, _I did not think him worth my Anger, and should easily forgive him, +upon Condition he would never see me any more: No_, Madam, said he, _I'd +rather see you angry, than not see you at all_: But in spight of me, he +visited us often; but I always entertain'd him with a coldness that did +not much please him, though no Body else perceiv'd it. We came to Town +in the beginning of _September_, and he was once at our House, and found +me alone: He began to talk of a violent Passion he had for me; but I +stop'd him, and said, _That was not a Discourse fit for me to hear from +him_. I commanded him to leave me; and told him if he ever came there +again, I wou'd be deny'd to him. He obey'd me, and I did not see him +again till _November_. He came in Mourning, and told us he had had the +misfortune to bury his Wife. He Writ to my Mother to desire her leave +to make his Addresses to me; which she gave him, and then he appear'd a +declar'd Lover. I was so us'd to receive him with Anger and Disdain, +that though I had not the same Reason now, I did not change my Behaviour +to him; and for four Months my Mother let me take my own way, without +speaking one word of _Orontes_ to me: Either she design'd to observe +what I wou'd do of my self, or she did not think it fit to talk of my +Marrying him so soon after his Wife's Death; but when she saw I slighted +him so long, she said to me one day, What do you mean Child, to receive +with equal indifference all the Proposals that are made to you? Do you +resolve to lead a single Life? I should approve of the choice in one of +a better Fortune; but you must conform your self to yours, and consider +that I am not able to maintain you. If you don't hate _Orontes_, I will +have you Marry him, he has given so great proof of his being a good +Husband, that you can't fear he will be otherwise to you; he is Handsome +enough, and very Rich; I believe he loves you, and in fine, I think you +may be as happy with him as with any Man; therefore, don't be +obstinately bent against your own good. He came in at the same time, and +seconded this command of my Mothers with Intreaties and Complaints. I +had no Aversion for him, and since my Circumstances wou'd oblige me to +Marry, and that I knew I could never love any Man; I thought it might as +well be he as any other; so in sometime after I yielded, and the +Wedding-day was appointed to be the Sixteenth of _May_ last. How do you +think 'tis possible to avoid it now; but many things happen betwixt the +Cup and the Lip. You are to know that _Orontes_'s Estate lay near a fine +Seat of _Cloridon_'s, which he often retir'd to; so that they were +acquainted, and much together; and that _Orontes_ went to his Country +House to make some Preparations a Week before the designed Marriage. +_Cloridon_ told him he was extreamly pleas'd to see him there; for they +had made a match for Hunting five or six days after with some Friends of +his, that were wishing for him. I must beg your Pardon my Lord, _says +he_, that I cannot stay so long; for I have business that will call me +to _London_ sooner. If it be not of great importance, _return'd he_, +pray let me prevail with you to stay. 'Tis not to be deferr'd my Lord, I +am to be Marry'd. Marry'd, cry'd my Lord, prithee what Madness possesses +thee, so lately freed, to bind thy self again without any necessity for +it? What Bait next, not another old Rich crabbed Widow, I hope? I have +made a better Choice now, _answer'd Orontes_: She has Youth and Goodness +I'm sure; and I have Money enough for us both. You are in the Right, +_Reply'd Cloridon_; but may I know her Name. You knew her Father my +Lord, _says he_, and then Sir _Martin Marrall_ told him whose Daughter I +was. And are you engag'd to her, _Cloridon_ ask'd? She has promis'd to +marry me the 16th of this Month, _said Orontes_, and therefore my Lord, +I hope you wont take it ill if I leave you upon so weighty an Affair. +_Cloridon_ was not in humour of making many Compliments; but he ask'd +abundance of Questions, of the beginning and progress of his Love, and +how I had us'd him all the time; but he could not much boast of my +Favour, which pleas'd _Cloridon_, and encourag'd him to endeavour to +break off the Match. He told _Orontes_ he should be oblig'd to go to +_London_ that day, but he would come back again before he went away; so +he left him, and immediately took his Journey; and as soon as he +arriv'd, came to our Lodgings, where he found my Mother and I together. +Judge of my surprize at this Sight, my first Thoughts were of _Orontes_; +I sigh'd when I compar'd 'em with one another, and had a thousand +different thoughts which I know not what to make of. _Cloridon_ +Addressing himself to my Mother, _said_, Madam, I am come to beg a +Favour of you, which I should hardly have the Confidence to ask, if the +whole satisfaction of my life did not depend upon it. My Mother told +him, that she could not refuse any thing to one whom she ow'd so much +to; and that she should think her self happy if she could serve him in a +thing which he said concern'd him so nearly. He return'd some +Compliments, and then desir'd her to hear him out with Patience, which +she promis'd, and he begun, I have a long time had a great Love and +Respect for your Daughter, and would have given all the World to have +seen her sometimes; but she refus'd it me; and I bore her Rigour without +Murmuring, in hopes the time would come when I could tell her I lov'd +her without offending her Virtue: But I can't live when I have lost that +hope, and therefore am come to beg you not to marry _Olinda_, as I am +told you design; and I will make her Fortune greater than what she can +expect from _Orontes_. How, my Lord, _interrupted my Mother_, what +strange Proposition is this you make me? Be not angry with me, or fear +me, _continu'd he_, for the moment you grant what I intreat of you, I +will leave you, and never desire to see _Olinda_ again, as long as I +continue in the Condition I am in; But 'twill be a great Happiness for +me to think, that she may one Day be mine; and to be assur'd she will +never be any others; and if she be not chang'd, or that I am not much +mistaken in her, she will not be averse to it. He was in the right, for +though I was never an Enemy to Marriage, yet I always preferr'd a single +Life to it; and I found enough of my stifled Flame revive to make my +Wishes comply with his. When my Mother saw me much inclin'd to it, and +knowing I had only consented to marry _Orontes_ in compliance of her; +she began to think of it as a thing might be done, but that she had +given her Word to _Orontes_, and could not go back from it. But +_Cloridon_ told her, she need not be in any Fault in that, if she wou'd +but make use of the occasion would be given her to break off with +_Orontes_ without Examining further. She made some other Objections, but +he Answer'd them all, and upon his Knees Swore, that if I Married +_Orontes_, neither he nor my Husband would survive it: So partly out of +fear of what might happen, and partly out of inclination to oblige him, +and willingness to please me, my Mother consented. _Cloridon_ begg'd +leave to talk with me, before he took his last leave, which he did, and +made me some little tender Reproaches, for having resolv'd to Marry; +which I answer'd with a more reserv'd Kindness than I had sometimes +done; and that was the Subject of many Letters he sent me since; for he +often writes to me. Two Days before we were to be Marry'd, _Orontes_ was +to come to Town, which _Cloridon_ knew, and had provided half a dozen +Soldiers to seize upon him in the King's Name, (for he was suspected for +an Enemy to the Government.) They did so, and told him they were +commanded to keep him a close Prisoner in a House hard by, till further +Order. He would fain have Writ, but they would not let him, for they +said they had Orders to the contrary. There they kept him a Week, and we +wonder'd we heard nothing of him, not knowing what methods were us'd to +hinder us; and to avoid seeing our Friends, who would enquire the +Reason, we thought it best to retire hither, this being a private Place. +When _Cloridon_ knew I was out of Town, he went himself to free him, and +told him things had been misrepresented, and he had been wrong'd; but in +requital he would procure him any Employment he would name; but he did +not accept it. When he came to enquire for me, no Body could tell him +where I was: But a Friend with whom I had left such Orders, told him, +that I had taken it so ill, that he should slight me so far, as neither +to come, nor to send to me, in so long time, that whatever he could say +for himself, I wou'd never forgive him, nor so much as hear him. He was +no doubt troubled at it, but he was not a Man to take any thing much to +Heart; and _Cloridon_ knowing he had not dealt very fairly by him, was +very desirous to oblige him some other way: And indeed he did him a very +considerable Service not long after, for he was really accus'd privately +to the King of a Plot, which wou'd have cost him his Life, if _Cloridon_ +had not taken a great deal of pains to free him, more than he could have +expected in such a ticklish Affair as that; and had like to become +himself suspected by it: So that I think he has been more his Friend in +saving his Life, than he was his Enemy in taking his Mistress from him. +This is, _Cleander_, the true Cause of my Retirement, which is very +agreeable to me, whilst I hear often from you, and whilst _Cloridon_ +continues to think of me. I have sent you a Copy of Verses which he writ +to me just after I came hither. + + _Nor cou'd my Rival, when those Charms + By thee were destin'd to his Arms, + Be half so bless'd as I, to find + The lovely Nun for me Confin'd: + Nor when of all that Bliss bereav'd, + He saw his full-blown hopes deceiv'd, + Cou'd be so curst as I to see + My self Exil'd from Heav'n in thee. + Strange Contradiction in my Fate, + At once a blest and wretched State: + But who--what Lover wou'd not choose + Thus to gain all, tho' all he lose? + So Merchants strive their Lives to save, + Threaten'd by ev'ry Wind and Wave, + And see with joy the long'd for Coast, + Tho' all they ventur'd for is lost._ + +_Cloridon_ has just sent me word that _Orontes_ is dead of the +Small-Pox; so that I shall come to Town sooner than I design'd. The +expectation of seeing you pleases me extreamly; for tho' I find a great +satisfaction in conversing with you by Letters; yet 'tis not so full and +perfect at this distance, as when I am with you. I can't tell you my +Thoughts so well, nor know yours; a Question suddenly started, or +sometimes a Look, will discover more to me than you know of your self; +and I would know you not as you seem to the World, or what you think of +your self, but what you are; for though you are more sincere than other +Men, yet there is no Man but deceives the World in some things, and +himself in more; and therefore to be a good Man, 'tis absolutely +necessary to have a true Friend; and since you have made choice of me, I +can only attone for my want of other Qualifications, by my Fidelity, +which you may always rely upon. Will not the World, when they see so +tender, so constant an Affection betwixt us, be convinced of that +receiv'd Error, that there can be no such intimacy betwixt two of +different Sexes without the Passion of Love; In us I'm sure they can't +suspect it; when they see you have so much Love for _Ambrisia_, and me +so forward to promote its being reciprocal. I wish it may have that +Effect, that the Women may no longer scruple to bestow their Friendship +upon a Worthy Man, for fear of misconstructions; both Sexes will find +their Advantages by it. Yours is more capable to instruct and form our +Minds; than the wisest of our own; and ours will be more apt to curb +that Licentiousness, which Men usually encourage one another in: And +what happiness will it be for us to see our selves the Instruments of +all the Men's becoming Good, and all the Women Wise? (A more +extraordinary Reformation than _Luther_'s.) Let our Friendships then be +so Exemplary, that all may emulate, and wish to live like us; and by +endeavouring, find that there's a purer and more solid Satisfaction one +moment with a Friend, than Ages thrown away upon the Gallantries, which +so take up the Hearts, and steal the Hours of our Youth. Adieu +_Cleander_, correct the Errors of my Life with a gentle Hand of +Friendship, and always be as much my Friend as I am yours, + + _OLINDA_. + +[Decoration] + + + + +[Decoration] + +LETTER VIII. + +Olinda _to_ Cloridon. + + _In Answer to a Letter which he sent her with the Copy of Verses in + the sixth of the foregoing ones._ + + +'TIS not an Hour ago since I believ'd I hated you: I thought I could +have rail'd at you, have call'd you base, seducer of my Honour, Traytor, +that under a pretence of Love, design'd my Ruin; but Ah! those tender +Excuses which you sent me, soon discover'd the mistake, and show'd me it +was only Angry Love, that so Transported me: And now 'tis turn'd to as +violent a Grief, which wou'd fain ease it self in Complaints: But I am +so wretched, that even that poor Comfort is deny'd me; for who can I +complain to, when in lamenting my Misfortune I must expose our Crime: +For yours my Lord, has involv'd me in the guilt; and all those thoughts +and Actions, which were innocent before, must be condemn'd as the Causes +of such ill Effects: For if I had never lov'd you, or if I had never +own'd it, nor consented to see you, you had not desir'd any thing of me +that could shock my Virtue: Now, I can't think of 'em without Shame and +Anger. That Love which shin'd before so Pure and Bright, appears now the +Blackest thing in Nature; and I hate my self for not hating you; for I +own (tho' I blush in owning) that I love you still; Nay, I believe that +I forgive you too; but I must never, never see you more: No, though you +swear you Repent, and that you would not repeat your Crime, if you were +certain of success. Would not you believe I should as easily Pardon your +breach of this Vow, as I did the last, which you made me as solemnly? +Yes, you would, my Lord, and I should be betray'd to things I never +thought of yet: For all is solid, convincing Reason that you speak; and +I should soon believe any thing you would have me. Curse on that fond +Credulity that first deceiv'd me into a belief, that 'twas no Sin to +love you. Yet sure it could not be an unpardonable Fault, to value one +that so infinitely deserves it: To Love, to See, and Talk with one whose +Conversation is so Charming as yours; and that was all I wish'd. All +that know you do the same; Why then am I more guilty? Ah! If your Fame +had been as pure as mine, we had both been Happy and Innocent; so +innocent, that she, that happy she, who claims all your love as her due, +(even she, I think, if she had known our Hearts) could not have been +offended at it: But who is there, the most uninterested, that would not +now condemn us; Nay, the most Partial could not excuse us; even we +should blame our selves. Why will you then importune me still to see +you; ask me no more, what I dare never grant; and believe----but you +know, 'tis not unkindness makes me Refuse you: You know I must be +Wretched in your Absence; yet think me easie and satisfied, if it will +contribute any thing to your quiet; or rather don't think of me at all. +Let us make our selves as happy as we can; I will endeavour to forget +you; don't Write to me, if you love me well enough to forbear it: And if +you can cease to love me, without hating me; for I don't find I have +force enough to bear so great a misfortune, which is the only one can +add to the weight of those which have already almost sunk + + _The Poor_ + + OLINDA. + +[Decoration] + + + + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +WILLIAM ANDREWS CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY + +UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES + +PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT + +[Decoration] + + +1948-1949 + + 16. Henry Nevil Payne, _The Fatal Jealousie_ (1673). + + 18. Anonymous, "Of Genius," in _The Occasional Paper_, Vol. III, No. 10 + (1719), and Aaron Hill, Preface to _The Creation_ (1720). + + +1949-1950 + + 19. Susanna Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). + + 20. Lewis Theobald, _Preface to the Works of Shakespeare_ (1734). + + 22. Samuel Johnson, _The Vanity of Human Wishes_ (1749), and two + _Rambler_ papers (1750). + + 23. John Dryden, _His Majesties Declaration Defended_ (1681). + + +1951-1952 + + 31. Thomas Gray, _An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard_ (1751), and + _The Eton College Manuscript_. + + +1952-1953 + + 41. Bernard Mandeville, _A Letter to Dion_ (1732). + + +1963-1964 + + 104. Thomas D'Urfey, _Wonders in the Sun; or, The Kingdom of the Birds_ + (1706). + + +1964-1965 + + 110. John Tutchin, _Selected Poems_ (1685-1700). + + 111. Anonymous, _Political Justice_ (1736). + + 112. Robert Dodsley, _An Essay on Fable_ (1764). + + 113. T. R., _An Essay Concerning Critical and Curious Learning_ (1698). + + 114. _Two Poems Against Pope_: Leonard Welsted, _One Epistle to Mr. A. + Pope_ (1730), and Anonymous, _The Blatant Beast_ (1742). + + +1965-1966 + + 115. Daniel Defoe and others, _Accounts of the Apparition of Mrs. + Veal_. + + 116. Charles Macklin, _The Covent Garden Theatre_ (1752). + + 117. Sir George L'Estrange, _Citt and Bumpkin_ (1680). + + 118. Henry More, _Enthusiasmus Triumphatus_ (1662). + + 119. Thomas Traherne, _Meditations on the Six Days of the Creation_ + (1717). + + 120. Bernard Mandeville, _Aesop Dress'd or a Collection of Fables_ + (1704). + + +1966-1967 + + 123. Edmond Malone, _Cursory Observations on the Poems Attributed to + Mr. Thomas Rowley_ (1782). + + 124. Anonymous, _The Female Wits_ (1704). + + 125. Anonymous, _The Scribleriad_ (1742). Lord Hervey, _The Difference + Between Verbal and Practical Virtue_ (1742). + + 126. _Le Lutrin: an Heroick Poem, Written Originally in French by + Monsieur Boileau: Made English by N. O._ (1682). + + +1967-1968 + + 127- + 128. Charles Macklin, _A Will and No Will, or a Bone for the Lawyers_ + (1746). _The New Play Criticiz'd, or The Plague of Envy_ (1747). + + 129. Lawrence Echard, Prefaces to _Terence's Comedies_ (1694) and + _Plautus's Comedies_ (1694). + + 130. Henry More, _Democritus Platonissans_ (1646). + + 131. John Evelyn, _The History of Sabatai Sevi, The Suppos'd Messiah of + the Jews_ (1669). + + 132. Walter Harte, _An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad_ + (1730). + + Publications of the first fifteen years of the Society (numbers + 1-90) are available in paperbound units of six issues at $16.00 per + unit, from the Kraus Reprint Company, 16 East 46th Street, New York, + N.Y. 10017. + + Publications in print are available at the regular membership rate + of $5.00 yearly. Prices of single issues may be obtained upon + request. Subsequent publications may be checked in the annual + prospectus. + + +REGULAR PUBLICATIONS FOR 1968-1969 + + 133. John Courtenay, _A Poetical Review of the Literary and Moral + Character of the Late Samuel Johnson_ (1786). Introduction by + Robert E. Kelley. + + 134. John Downes, _Roscius Anglicanus_ (1708). Introduction by John + Loftis. + + 135. Sir John Hill, _Hypochondriasis, a Practical Treatise on the Nature + and Cure of that Disorder Call'd the Hyp or Hypo_ (1766). + Introduction by G. S. Rousseau. + + 136. Thomas Sheridan, _Discourse ... Being Introductory to His Course of + Lectures on Elocution and the English Language_ (1759). + Introduction by G. P. Mohrman. + + 137. Arthur Murphy, _The Englishman From Paris_ (1756). Introduction by + Simon Trefman. Previously unpublished manuscript. + + 138. [Catherine Trotter], _Olinda's Adventures_ (1718). Introduction by + Robert Adams Day. + + +SPECIAL PUBLICATION FOR 1968-1969 + +_After THE TEMPEST_. Introduction by George Robert Guffey. + +Next in the continuing series of special publications by the Society +will be _After THE TEMPEST_, a volume including the Dryden-Davenant +version of _The Tempest_ (1670); the "operatic" _Tempest_ (1674); Thomas +Duffet's _Mock-Tempest_ (1675); and the "Garrick" _Tempest_ (1756), with +an Introduction by George Robert Guffey. + + +Already published in this series are: + +1. John Ogilby, _The Fables of Aesop Paraphras'd in Verse_ (1668), with +an Introduction by Earl Miner. + +2. John Gay, _Fables_ (1727, 1738), with an Introduction by Vinton A. +Dearing. + +3. Elkanah Settle, _The Empress of Morocco_ (1673) with five plates; +_Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco_ (1674) by John +Dryden, John Crowne and Thomas Shadwell; _Notes and Observations on the +Empress of Morocco Revised_ (1674) by Elkanah Settle; and _The Empress +of Morocco. A Farce_ (1674) by Thomas Duffet; with an Introduction by +Maximillian E. Novak. + +Price to members of the Society, $2.50 for the first copy of each title, +and $3.25 for additional copies. Price to non-members, $4.00. Standing +orders for this continuing series of Special Publications will be +accepted. British and European orders should be addressed to B. H. +Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. + + + + +William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: University of California, Los +Angeles + +THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY + +2520 CIMARRON STREET, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90018 + +_General Editors_: William E. Conway, William Andrews Clark Memorial +Library; George Robert Guffey, University of California, Los Angeles: +Maximillian E. Novak, University of California, Los Angeles + +_Corresponding Secretary_: Mrs. Edna C. Davis, William Andrews Clark +Memorial Library + + +The Society's purpose is to publish rare Restoration and +eighteenth-century works (usually as facsimile reproductions). All +income of the Society is devoted to defraying costs of publication and +mailing. + +Correspondence concerning memberships in the United States and Canada +should be addressed to the Corresponding Secretary at the William +Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 2520 Cimarron Street, Los Angeles, +California. Correspondence concerning editorial matters may be addressed +to the General Editors at the same address. Manuscripts of introductions +should conform to the recommendations of the MLA _Style Sheet_. 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